Beaten to death in Makebuko : three suspects arrested

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, September 12, 2026—Three people are held in police custody in Makebuko, in the district and province of Gitega, after the discovery of the lifeless body of a 53-year-old man who had been brutally beaten. The suspects are accused of assaulting him after suspecting him of stealing from a household.

The arrested individuals are Spéciose Minani, 59 years old, Jean de Dieu Nzobarinda, 21 years old, and Léocadie Bigirindavyi. They were apprehended on Thursday, September 10, in Makebuko village and taken to the local police station.

According to Menedore Ndihokubwayo, chief of Makebuko village, the victim, 53-year-old Numélien Bigirimana, was brutally beaten before being finished off with blows from a club. He was accused of stealing items from Spéciose Minani’s home.

The three suspects remain in police custody while the judicial police officer continues the investigation. They are expected to be brought before a judge at the conclusion of the inquiry.

Another body found in the Mutwenzi River

On September 5, 2026, the lifeless body of 30-year-old Jean Claude Nduwimana was found in the Mutwenzi River, on the banks of Kibande village, in the district and province of Gitega.

The police suggest a possible epileptic seizure as the cause of death. However, residents of Kibande reject this version and are calling for an independent investigation to determine the exact circumstances of his death.

They specifically want the authorities to determine whether the death was from natural causes or if others were involved, and for those responsible to be prosecuted according to the law.

Persistent concerns in Gitega

The province of Gitega is regularly cited among the provinces of Burundi where cases of murders, disappearances, and the discovery of bodies are reported. The Iteka League, a pioneering human rights organization in Burundi, working from exile, has notably raised concerns related to human rights violations in the province.

The discoveries of bodies and the murders have also raised concerns among the Catholic bishops of Burundi, as well as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi, Fortuné Gaëtan Zongo.

These concerns are fueling calls for thorough investigations to establish the circumstances of the deaths, identify those responsible, and ensure that the alleged perpetrators are brought to justice.