Gitega : a man killed with a machete in Itaba – witchcraft suspected

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, April 24, 2025 — A new gruesome discovery has shocked the population of Rukobe 2 village, in Itaba district, central Burundi. Déo Bakevyumusaya, a 55-year-old man, was brutally killed with a machete on Wednesday, April 23, shortly after 7 p.m., just ten meters from his home.

According to witnesses, the victim’s body was found lying in a pool of blood, his skull severely mutilated. Village chief Bernard Ntakarutimana, who confirmed the information, described the murder as a “horror scene,” adding that the head injuries indicated extreme violence.

Circumstances of the tragedy remain unclear. No witnesses were able to identify the perpetrators of this murder, but the possibility of a settling of scores linked to accusations of witchcraft is being considered. “This is a hypothesis we are not ruling out, as the victim had recently been in conflict with some members of the community who suspected her of mystical practices,” the village chief told SOS Médias Burundi.

Déo Bakevyumusaya’s body was transferred to the Buhoro Health Center before its burial the following day. As part of the investigation, a man named Désiré Ntakarutimana was arrested on Thursday, April 24, and taken to the Itaba police station for questioning.

Nearly 50 bodies found since November 2024

This murder joins a series of similar incidents that regularly rock Gitega province. Since November 2024, nearly 50 bodies have been found in the province, according to data compiled by SOS Médias Burundi. Most were discovered in appalling conditions, often linked to accusations of witchcraft, land disputes, or community score-settling.

“We don’t understand why these barbaric acts are becoming recurrent. The population lives in constant fear,” worryingly said a resident of Itaba district.

Local authorities, for their part, are calling for vigilance and collaboration with security services. They promise that investigations will continue until all the perpetrators are arrested.

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The town center of the Itaba district in the province of Gitega in central Burundi where Déo Bakevyumusaya was savagely killed (SOS Médias Burundi)