Gitega : two lifeless bodies found in Jimbi and Murirwe, criminal investigation favored

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, July 21, 2025 – Shock waves have swept through Gitega province, central Burundi, following the discovery of two lifeless bodies in the villages of Jimbi and Murirwe, under suspicious circumstances. Local authorities and law enforcement have opened investigations to shed light on these two tragedies.

The first case was reported in Jimbi villagel, in the district and province of Gitega. According to a witness met on the scene, a lifeless body, estimated to be around 25 years old, was found in a small bush near a trail on Sunday, July 20, 2025. The victim was not identified at the time of the discovery.

Libérat Ntakarutimana, chief of Jimbi villagel, confirmed the information. He stated that the victim had numerous injuries and cuts, clear signs of a severe beating. According to his initial statements, he could have been a suspected thief, apprehended by the angry population and violently lynched. His body was taken to the morgue of Saint Thérèse Hospital in Songa (Béthanie) for an autopsy, while police investigations continue.

Another body exhumed in Murirwe, a conflict over gambling involved

The same day, in Murirwe village, still in the district of Gitega, another gruesome event shook the residents : the body of Jean Claude Nitegeka, aged 29, was exhumed after having been missing for nearly a month. The operation was carried out by local residents in collaboration with civil protection police officers. Zacharie Nkomamashi, Murirwe village chief, confirmed that the deceased was killed following a dispute over gambling. Two individuals suspected of involvement in this murder, namely Tharcisse Ntakarutimana and Fulgence Niyonkuru, were arrested. They are currently detained at the Gitega provincial police station for investigation.

Chronic insecurity is a cause for concern

These two cases, which occurred on the same day and in the same province, are part of a series of tragic events that regularly shake Gitega. In the absence of lasting solutions, some residents say they live in constant fear, fearing they themselves will be targeted or victims of reprisals.

The authorities call on the population not to take justice into their own hands and to collaborate with law enforcement to maintain peace and security. Investigations are still ongoing to establish responsibility and the exact circumstances of these two tragedies.

For several months, this province, which is home to the political capital, has been referred to as a “cemetery province” due to the recurring discoveries of corpses in often violent conditions. These episodes fuel a growing sense of fear among the population.