Police nab 3 more for albino murder
Three more people have been arrested in connection with the murder of Yasin Phiri, a person with albinism who was brutally killed on December 31 in his house at Kande Trading Centre in Nkhata Bay.
Deputy Inspector General of Police responsible for administration John Nyondo revealed the arrests of the three when he presided over an awareness campaign against attacks on people with albinism on Saturday at Kande in the district.
However, he did not identify the suspects nor reveal where they were arrested, fearing doing so could alert other suspects to escape arrests.
The arrest of the three brings the number of arrested suspects to seven.
A charged Nyondo vowed to make more arrests and ensure that the culprits face the law.
He said: “I can assure you that we will arrest all the suspects involved. We are having sleepless nights over this issue to arrest these criminals. As I am talking, we have arrested three more people bringing the number of suspects to seven.”
Nyondo also called on relations of people with albinism and the community to help in protecting them.
However, the police are yet to find Phiri’s body parts that the criminals chopped off during his murder.
Association of People with Albinism (Apam) representative Christopher Ndovi lamented that Phiri’s murder has deepened fear of attacks among people with albinism.
He urged community members to help protect people with albinism.
Senior chief Fukamapiri said people in the area are angry with what happened to Phiri. He said the people are ready to revenge and if the suspects are seen in the area, they will be dealt with.
During the awareness campaign, Nyondo ordered the establishment of a police unit at Kande, noting that the absence of one may be fuelling crimes but also frustrating the community in reporting crimes.
He said by tomorrow police officers will have to start operating in the area.
Nkhata Bay district commissioner Rodney Simwaka pledged to look into the construction of a proper police unit, adding the police will use other structure as they wait for construction of the unit.
