2 Ethiopians arrested for assaulting cops in Dowa

Police in Dowa on Saturday arrested two Ethiopians for allegedly assaulting police officers and damaging their vehicle.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Dowa Police Station spokesperson Richard Kaponda said the two were part of a group which attacked police when they went to Dzaleka Refugee Camp to investigate issues of human trafficking and illegal immigration.

He said: “The two suspects were also assaulting fellow Ethiopians on suspicion that they were tipping-off police about their illegal dealings.”

Kaponda said most  refugees come to Malawi to seek asylum but as soon as they arrive at the camp, they start trafficking their colleagues.

According to Kaponda, the traffickers and their hostages fled when police arrived at the scene and the police are still hunting for them.

Police could not disclose the identities of the arrested duo.n