23 killed by armed gang in northwest Burundi: official
Saturday May 12 2018
An unknown group armed with guns and knives raided a village in Burundi's Cibitoke province killing 26 people and setting fire to buildings. GOOGLE MAP
An unknown armed gang killed at least 23 people on Friday night in an attack on a village in northwest Burundi, a local official said.
"We have already counted 23 people killed, including men, women and children, but the toll could increase as we continue to search for victims," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Witnesses described an hours-long orgy of violence and said a further 10 people were wounded by a group armed with guns and knives who also set fire to buildings in a village in the Cibitoke province bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
"These criminals went house to house and committed real carnage," said the official, saying he was "horrified" by the violence.
"Some of the victims were stabbed, others were shot, there is even a whole family that was burned alive in their home."
The perpetrators and their motive are not yet known, but local residents said the attackers crossed into DR Congo after carrying out the raid at around 10 pm (2000 GMT) on Friday night.
"For now, these criminals have not been identified, but an investigation is underway to determine their identity," said a police officer, who did not want to be named.
The attack comes as tensions rise days ahead of a constitutional referendum on May 17 which could allow President Pierre Nkurunziza to stay in power until 2034.