The Tanzanian comedian who had sent an ‘SOS’ cry for help, claiming she was being held ransom in a dugout pit, somewhere in the Southern parts of the country, has been discovered to suffer from hallucinations.
At least, this is according to the Tanzania Police who say the lady comedian Anastanzia Exavery Mahatane, known by her stage name of ‘Ebitoke,’ could be suffering from dementia driven hallucinations and has been taken to hospital.
A Police statement reveals that Ebitoke, who is a former resident of Dar-es-salaam recently relocated to Mtwara Region in the South-Eastern Tanzania, where she recently started to post her alleged predicament online, saying she was being buried alive.
According to the police, Anastazia Mahatane, or Ebitoke has been posting ‘cries for help,’ messages on a number of social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
In her posts Ebitoke claimed that she had been abducted by unknown people who pushed her into a pit, in the Msanga Mkuu shoreline of Mtwara, possibly wanting to bury the comedian alive.
However, upon investigations, the police realized while it was true that Anastazia was indeed in Mtwara, but the comedian was not buried in a pit or grave.
Ebitoke, who moved from Dar-es-salaam City to Mtwara Region in April 2025 is said to have accosted some hotel owners and begged to be taken aboard their property for refuge as she was in some kind of trouble.
It is believed that the comedian has been staying at the hotel located in Msanga Mkuu area for over three months.
After she sent messages of seeking help, the police went round to investigate and found Ebitoke walking on the sandy shores of Mtwara, looking dishevelled and in horrid condition, but otherwise safe.
The artist also seemed sick, so the police took her to the Mtwara hospital with directives to the management to ensure that she remains there until her relatives turn up to take her home.