MWE Correspondent
The shocking death of a young law student in Mbeya has taken yet another dramatic turn, after three main suspects in the case were fatally shot while allegedly trying to escape police custody.
Police Commander for Mbeya Region, Benjamin Kuzaga, confirmed that the suspects—identified as Marwa Nyahega, Edward Kayuni, and Websta Mwantebele—were arrested between September 24 and 25, following a manhunt sparked by the brutal killing of 21-year-old Shyrose Mahande, a student at Mzumbe University. Shyrose was reported missing on September 14, 2025, before her body was later found burned, in a crime that shocked the entire country.
Authorities say the three suspects were cornered after days of tracking their movements. During the arrest operations, one suspect pulled a knife while another attempted to flee. Police responded with gunfire, injuring all three. They later died from their wounds while under medical care. Commander Kuzaga emphasized that although these key suspects are now dead, the investigation continues, and other accomplices are still being pursued—including a traditional healer accused of receiving one of the victim’s severed fingers.
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Investigators believe the killers first abducted Shyrose in a ransom scheme gone wrong. It is alleged that they tried to extort money from her family by sending disturbing images and videos, before eventually strangling her and setting her body on fire in an attempt to erase evidence.
The case has deeply unsettled the public, not only because of the horrific nature of the crime but also because of its alleged connection to ritualistic practices. The involvement of a witchdoctor has raised alarm about the persistence of ritual killings in parts of East Africa, where human body parts are sometimes believed to bring fortune or power.
For Shyrose’s fellow students, her death is a grim reminder of ongoing challenges facing university safety in Tanzania. Calls are growing for better security measures to protect students, especially young women, who remain vulnerable to crimes of violence.
The killing has also sparked a wider conversation about abduction and violent crime in Tanzania, and how communities and law enforcement must work together to confront these threats.
