Genocide survivor escapes death narrowly in stabbing attack

A Genocide survivor who was stabbed in Rusizi District in the Western Province is recovering as the hunt for her attacker continues, authorities said. Bernadette Uwizeyimana was attacked yesterday morning at her home and stabbed on the head.

Monday, April 10, 2017

A Genocide survivor who was stabbed in Rusizi District in the Western Province is recovering as the hunt for her attacker continues, authorities said.

Bernadette Uwizeyimana was attacked yesterday morning at her home and stabbed on the head.

Speaking to The New Times last evening, Emmanuel Nsigaye, the Vice-Mayor in charge of Social Affairs in the district, said the victim was immediately rushed to Bugarama Health Centre. "It is true that the victim was stabbed by a criminal whom we have not yet identified. She was immediately taken to hospital and was discharged after treatment. Investigations are being carried out so that the criminal involved in the attack can be arrested,” he said.

Reports say the assailant was in military uniform and found her in the field where she was tilling her land at around 8am.

Sources say that the assailant called the victim and showed her a list of names of some survivors and victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi asking her to indicate where they were located.

Uwizeyimana responded that most of those on the list were killed during the Genocide and was then asked by the attacker whether she preferred dying by the gun or stabbing.

He then pulled out a knife and stabbed her on the head and Uwizeyimana fell down crying out loud before her attacker ran away on hearing people approaching.

Efforts to get a comment from the Western Province Police spokesperson were futile by press time.

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