EASTERN PROVINCE

RWAMAGANA — The police in Rwamagana are holding three men including a village leader allegedly for lynching two suspected thieves.

Jean Marie Vianney Kalisa, the leader of Rusave village, Kigabiro Sector in Rwamagana District and two others are held at the district’s police station in connection with leading a mob that killed suspected goat thieves last week.

The other suspects were identified as Mark Kubwimana (in charge of security) and François Gatera. The latter is a resident whose goat had been stolen.

According to area residents, the deceased and others still at large have been notorious thugs who have been terrorizing the community for quite long.

"I failed to control the angry mob; residents even threatened to kill me if I continued pleading with them to stop beating the thugs," Kalisa said in an interview with The New Times at Rwamagana Police Station.

He added, "I called police but by the time they arrived one thug had already died and the other thug died on his way home in Gishari Sector."

One of the dead was identified as Ziraje, while the other is known by the names of Alias Karegeya Mubugunyi.

According to Kalisa, the stolen goat was recovered from Mubugunyi’s home.

François Gatera the owner of the goat said that he had lost other unspecified number of home property.

He said, "I called residents to come to my rescue but I did not order them to kill them. Upon arresting the thugs, the bitter residents used mob justice consequently killing them," He added, "I ask for forgiveness because we had no intention of killing the thieves."

The police said the trio will be referred to court to be tried for taking the law in their own hands.

Ends