Refugees arrested after mission hospital robbery

Police in Kigoma last week arrested seven Burundian refugees from two separate refugee settlements in connection with acts of robbery with violence, Kigoma Regional Police Commander Placid Chaka told IRIN on Wednesday. The seven - six from Mtabili II camp and one from the Mishamu settlement area - were arrested at Mwanga B village, some 28 km from Mtabila camp in Kasulu district, he said. They were arrested on the night of 25 May after a night robbery at the Kabanga mission hospital, also used as a referral hospital for refugees, Chaka stated. “At the hospital, they kidnapped a doctor and, because they could not speak good English, they indicated that they wanted to be shown ‘white’ or ‘pharmacy’,” he said. Apart from injuring a nun, the thieves stole two kitchen knives and a hot pot. “This is the first time refugees have attacked an institution ... It has caused fear among residents and patients,” Chaka said.