The Police in Tanzania have shot down dead two people who were alleged to have kidnapped two young schoolgirls in Mwanza City.
A statement from the Mwanza Regional Police Commander’s office, claims that the two suspects wanted to attack the cops who surrounded the house in which the unidentified men had held the two children hostage.
The two children have however been rescued and taken to Sekou Toure Hospital for medical examinations, but otherwise, the police assured the parents that the kids looked fine.
The primary school pupils were kidnapped in Mwanza City following an early morning attack on their School Bus.
They were reportedly abducted from their school bus by three unknown people and the fact that, the criminals have started relaying ransom notes to parents.
The kidnapped minors, both being pupils of the Blessing Model School, have been named as Margaret Thobias Juma, aged 8 attending class two and Fortunata Godfrey Mwakalebela, aged 5 and in primary 1.
According to the Police Statement, the two young girls together with four other pupils were on their way to school in the early hours of Wednesday, the 5th of February 2025.
They had just been picked up from their respective homes by their school van, a Toyota Hiace with registration number T233 DJC belonging to the Blessing Model institution.
Margaret was taken from her home at Hesawa street in the Capri Point section​, while Fortunata lived in the Bugando area.
Aboard the bus there were six children, a matron and the driver. The vehicle was heading towards Nyasaka Dampo ward of Ilemela District in Mwanza ready for the pupils to start their usual class programs.
It was when the van was at Capri Point when the driver decided to pick up a stranger, a man who was hitch-hiking for lift, at least, the police reports claim.
Apparently, the people in the bus, ​were not aware of the two motorcycles trailing them from behind and later their two riders took positions abreast the van.
Then the strange hitchhiker who was seated behind the driver, rose and started strangling him.
A fierce struggle ensued, forcing the driver to stop the vehicle.
The stranger then grabbed two children by force and whisked them out of the school bus.
He bundled them onto the two motorcycles that were trailing them and then took off to oblivion.
Later the kidnappers started sending ransom notes to the school management demanding money for the safe release of the two children.
In connection with the incident, the police are still holding in custody the other two suspects, arrested earlier, namely Richard Mekidi Mtui aged 34 a resident of Nyasaka and Rebecca George Kijazi aged 23 a teacher in Mwanza.