Residents of Butunga Street in Kibirizi Ward have appealed to the Kigoma Regional Police to step up security along the railway area following a series of gruesome murders that have occurred there.

Reporting on the killing of an unidentified man aged between 45 and 50, whose body was discovered on the morning of August 31, 2025, the street chairman, Hamis Yasin, said the victim had been brutally hacked with machetes on different parts of his body, with some limbs, including his legs, removed.

“There have been recurring incidents of people being brutally killed in the railway area. Today’s case marks the third to be reported here within a short period. Residents are living in fear, not knowing what is going on. We are urging the government to strengthen security,” he said.

Following the incident, Yasin called on the government and law enforcement authorities to ensure that those responsible for the killing and previous cases are apprehended and face the full force of the law.

He added:“I am urging the government, through security agencies, to dismantle groups of youth engaging in marijuana smoking and gambling since they have often been linked by the community to criminal activities.”

He further urged his fellow local government leaders to conduct regular patrols both day and night to curb the reported cases of mugging and killings, allegedly committed by individuals from the neighboring Gungu area.

Describing the victim, witnesses said he was believed to be a resident of Mlole Street and conducted his daily activities around the Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) premises.

Confirming the incident, Kigoma Regional Police Commander, SACP Filemon Makungu, stated that the body has already been handed over to the deceased’s family for burial arrangements, while investigations continue to determine the motive and identify the perpetrators.

He assured residents that the police remain committed to curbing crime, while emphasizing the importance of community cooperation to strengthen security in Kigoma Ujiji Municipality.