MUHANGA – Residents in Muhanga District are living in fear after a series of attacks in the last few weeks.Witnesses told The New Times that unidentified assailants are attacking people with machetes at night.Residents are now terrified and afraid of being the next targets in the brutal machete attacks, a local resident said.According to witnesses’ accounts, the attacks have been carried out late at night by unidentified thugs moving in groups.On Sunday night, a resident of Biti Village, Gahogo Cell of Nyamabuye Sector was attacked in his home in the latest reported incident.“It was around 11 pm. I saw an individual peeping into my house. When I went to check, he immediately grabbed me,” John Espain Niwemfura, said.“When I tried to defend myself, he struck my hand with what seemed like a club. Then I saw another man wielding a machete coming into our direction.”Niwemfura said he kept yelling for help.“We fought for about three to five minutes.” “By the time the man with a machete got closer, my wife and some neighbours had come to my rescue. When he tried to cut me with the machete, someone grabbed his hand. But they somehow managed to escape.”On the same night, another resident in Gitarama Cell identified as Callixte Bagirubwira, was also attacked.Residents in the area told The New Times that such attacks had become routine in the area. It is reported that about five individuals have been attacked in the last two weeks.Witnesses said such attacks occurred mainly in Gahogo, Nyabisindu and Gitarama cells, all in Nyamabuye in Muhanga central town.The attacks occur late at night and the aggressors appear to be not interested in possessions, sources said. In many of the attacks, the victims have sustained injuries.According to eyewitnesses and victim accounts, the attackers move in groups of two, wearing hats and carrying brand new machetes. Local leaders said they are yet to establish any link between the victims of the attacks, making it harder to identify the motive behind them. But, Police spokesperson Supt Theos Badege, told The New Times in a phone interview that the attacks were being carried out by robbers.He noted that two individuals had been arrested. By press time the two suspects were at Nyamabuye Police station.A third individual thought to have been taking part in the attacks was on the run and the Police was searching for him, he added.Supt. Badege urged the population to maintain good cooperation between them and security organs and report any suspicious individuals in their localities.
