“This is Vwawa Bus Stand,
where the incident occurred in which armed robbers shot and killed a security
guard before fleeing with various items.”
Songwe. Four suspected armed
robbers have been shot dead following a confrontation with police in Songwe
Region after allegedly being involved in a violent raid on a mobile phone and
financial services shop in Vwawa town, Mbozi District, in which a security
guard was killed.
According to a statement issued
today, December 30, 2025, by the Songwe Regional Police Commander, Senior
Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) Augustino Senga, the incident occurred
at around 3:30 a.m. The suspects reportedly stormed the shop, owned by
businessman Gabriel Msemwa, at the Vwawa main bus stand, killed the guard,
William Mwampashi (45), and fled with assorted items.
The deceased suspects have been
identified as Bruce Mwasenga, Eliuta Mapunda, Abdul Chiba, and Justine, known
by a single name.
SACP Senga said police
immediately launched intensive, intelligence-led investigations, which enabled
officers to identify and track down the suspects.
“During a follow-up operation in
the Ilembo area of Vwawa town, where the suspects were hiding, police officers
attempted to arrest them. However, the suspects resisted and engaged the
officers using firearms,” he said.
A shootout ensued, during which
all four suspects sustained gunshot wounds. They were rushed to Mbozi District
Hospital, where they later died while receiving treatment.
Police said the suspects were
notorious repeat offenders who had previously been sentenced to 30 years’
imprisonment for murder and armed robbery, but were released after appealing
their convictions and subsequently returned to criminal activities.
Authorities further linked the
group to a series of serious crimes committed across the regions of Mbeya,
Songwe, Rukwa and Katavi.
Items recovered during the
operation include 30 smartphones, 172 basic mobile phones, a CRDB Bank POS
machine, a locally manufactured pistol, a crowbar, four screwdrivers, four live
rounds of ammunition, one spent cartridge, metal bars and two padlocks, believed
to have been used to break into the shop.
The Songwe Regional Police said a
manhunt is ongoing to track down other suspects connected to the incident,
warning that firm legal action will be taken against anyone found to be
involved

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