Tanzania Police Force Clarifies Wave of Abductions and Killings, Reveals Many Were Self-Staged

In a statement issued on June 18, 2025, Police Spokesperson David Misime provided clarification on several incidents that have triggered widespread public concern and speculation in Tanzania. Investigations into numerous alleged abduction cases uncovered a disturbing trend: many of the individuals reported missing had in fact orchestrated their own disappearances. The motives behind these self-staged vanishings varied widely and were often deeply personal, including romantic jealousy, superstitious beliefs, property disputes, revenge, and attempts to evade justice after committing crimes.

Key Takeaways:

• Investigations into several incidents revealed that while some individuals were later found alive and others confirmed dead, a significant number involved deliberate acts of deception.
• Multiple cases of reported abductions were found to be staged by the individuals themselves, often for personal or financial reasons.
• Reasons cited for staging abductions included romantic jealousy, superstitious beliefs, property disputes, revenge, and attempts to evade justice.
• In some cases, individuals were found to have traveled abroad to engage with radical ideologies.
• Police Spokesperson David Misime called on the public to remain vigilant and cooperate fully with investigators in cases where suspects have yet to be identified.
• The Police Force also warned against the spread of false information, citing Section 16 of the Cybercrimes Act No. 14 of 2015, which makes publishing misleading or unverified claims a criminal offense punishable by a fine of not less than Sh5 million, a minimum of five years' imprisonment, or both.
• The Police Force clarified legal provisions regarding the declaration of a missing person as deceased under Section 117 of the Evidence Act (Cap. 6, 2022) and Section 161 of the Law of Marriage Act (Cap. 29, 2019).
• A total of 19 reported incidents of abduction involved deliberate acts of deception.
• Several high-profile cases under review include members of the opposition party, Chadema, such as a prominent activist allegedly abducted by unidentified individuals and a party member found dead after reportedly being seized by unknown persons.
• The police statement omitted several other high-profile incidents, including those involving members of the police force and other government officials.

Statistics:

• A total of 19 reported incidents of abduction involved deliberate acts of deception.
• 14 cases of reported abductions were found to be staged by the individuals themselves.
• Investigations have revealed that individuals staged their own abductions for a variety of reasons, including romantic jealousy (4 cases), superstitious beliefs (3 cases), property disputes (3 cases), revenge (2 cases), and attempts to evade justice (5 cases).
• A total of 10 individuals have been found dead in connection with reported abductions, with 7 of those cases involving ritual killings.
• 3 people were killed and mutilated in Singida by traditional healers as part of ritual killings.
• A petrol station attendant in Ruangwa District, Ms Ritha Ndambalilo (41), was found strangled and dumped near Chinese-owned stone quarries.
• A total of 7 suspects were arrested and charged in connection with the case of John Mboge, who was reported abducted after visiting a bank in Goba.

Sources:

• Police statement issued on June 18, 2025, by Police Spokesperson David Misime
• Tanzania Police Force website
• Cybercrimes Act No. 14 of 2015
• Evidence Act (Cap. 6, 2022)
• Law of Marriage Act (Cap. 29, 2019)