Inspector General of Police (IGP) Camilius Wambura has addressed the serious allegations against the police force regarding recent disappearances. Speaking to journalists after laying a foundation stone for the construction of district police offices in Bariadi town, he emphasized that the police are committed to protecting citizens and their properties and refuted claims of police involvement in abductions as unfounded and unfair.
Wambura highlighted the police’s ongoing efforts in rescuing kidnapped individuals, pointing to recent incidents where some police commanders suggested that certain individuals staged their own abductions to blame the police. He stressed that linking the police to these incidents is unjust as the force is dedicated to maintaining public safety and security.
Despite Wambura’s assurances, concerns about disappearances persist. Human rights organizations and family members of the missing individuals have voiced their distress and frustration over the lack of progress in investigations. Notably, incidents reported between 2021 and 2023 include over 100 disappearances, mostly involving entrepreneurs and traders, which has led to speculation about possible police involvement.
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Anna Henga, executive director of the Legal Human Rights Centre (LHRC), indicated that the true scale of disappearances might be much larger, describing the reported cases as possibly just the “tip of the iceberg.” The LHRC, which initially provided legal aid to relatives of the disappeared, has shifted its focus to raising public awareness due to the stagnation in police investigations. Henga highlighted the immense anguish families face, caught in limbo without knowledge of whether their loved ones are alive, suffering, or dead.
Relatives of the missing continue to demand answers and support from the authorities, often without success. Families have recounted how their loved ones disappeared under mysterious circumstances, sometimes allegedly taken away by individuals identifying themselves as police officers. However, inquiries at local police stations frequently result in denials of any arrests.
In one high-profile incident, mining dealer Mussa Mziba disappeared after reportedly being arrested by police in December 2023. His wife claimed that each follow-up attempt yielded the same response: investigations were ongoing. Mohamed Hamad, vice chairman of the government Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRGG), noted that numerous families had reported similar disappearances under comparable circumstances.
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