WESTERN PROVINCE

NYAMASHEKE — Police and army in Impala cell, Bushenge sector, Nyamasheke district on Monday shot dead a notorious thug.

Theophile Ntacyasigaye, 45, was shot at around 8:26pm at the home of one Theodomir Karugenda, whom the deceased is suspected to have wanted to kill.

A security official said they had earlier been tipped that the deceased was plotting to kill Karugenda and his family members.

"Somebody alerted us (security organs) a day before the incident that Ntacyasigaye would come to kill Karugenda, and his entire family, so we as security authorities had to deploy there and indeed its where he was gunned down, after confronting with us," said a security personnel.

Security sources said the deceased had eluded arrest for the last two years, to answer charges of murder in different areas in both Nyamasheke and Rusizi districts.

He reportedly died in an exchange of gun fire with security operatives, and was found with an SMG riffle. Security operatives said he was with other thugs still at large.

Area residents believe the deceased was hired to kill Karugenda, a Genocide survivor, to conceal evidence against some genocide suspects.

"According to my observation and understanding, I think this man (deceased) had been hired by genocide suspects to kill me because I am a Genocide survivor, who always testifies against those who killed my family relatives and friends, during the 1994 Genocide in the area," Karugenda told The New Times.

By press time, the body was still kept at Bushenge Mortuary, unclaimed, is suspected to have been a resident of Mparwe cell in Nkombo sector.

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