Burundi: Makebuko Gitega Murder Suspects Arrested for Bigirimana Death

• Three individuals were arrested in Makebuko, Gitega province, on September 10, 2026, in connection with the fatal beating of 53-year-old Numélien Bigirimana.
• The suspects, Spéciose Minani, Jean de Dieu Nzobarinda, and Léocadie Bigirindavyi, are accused of assaulting Bigirimana after he was suspected of stealing from Minani's home.
• Separately, the body of 30-year-old Jean Claude Nduwimana was found in the Mutwenzi River on September 5, 2026, with residents disputing the police's suggested cause of death and demanding an independent inquiry.
• Gitega province is frequently noted for murders, disappearances, and body discoveries, prompting human rights concerns from the Iteka League, Catholic bishops, and the UN Special Rapporteur.
• Calls are intensifying for comprehensive investigations into these deaths to ensure accountability and justice for victims.

These widespread concerns are fueling urgent calls for thorough investigations to ascertain the precise circumstances of these deaths, identify those responsible, and ensure that alleged perpetrators are brought to justice.

Three individuals have been taken into police custody in Makebuko, Gitega province, following the discovery of a 53-year-old man's body who had been severely beaten. The suspects are accused of assaulting the victim after allegedly suspecting him of theft from a household. This development, reported on September 12, 2026, marks a significant step in the Numélien Bigirimana death investigation in Burundi.

The victim, identified as Numélien Bigirimana, was reportedly subjected to a brutal beating before being fatally struck with a club. Village chief Menedore Ndihokubwayo confirmed that Bigirimana was accused of stealing items from the home of one of the arrested individuals, Spéciose Minani. The three suspects, Spéciose Minani (59 years old), Jean de Dieu Nzobarinda (21 years old), and Léocadie Bigirindavyi, were apprehended on Thursday, September 10, in Makebuko village and are currently held at the local police station.

These Makebuko Gitega murder suspects arrested remain in police custody as a judicial police officer continues the inquiry. They are expected to be presented before a judge once the investigation concludes. The Spéciose Minani Jean de Dieu Nzobarinda arrest, alongside Bigirindavyi, highlights ongoing efforts to address violent crime in the region.

Just days prior to the Makebuko arrests, on September 5, 2026, the lifeless body of 30-year-old Jean Claude Nduwimana was discovered in the Mutwenzi River, near Kibande village in the same Gitega province. While police have suggested an epileptic seizure as a possible cause of death, residents of Kibande have rejected this explanation.

Local residents are urgently calling for an independent investigation into the Jean Claude Nduwimana Mutwenzi River death. They seek clarity on whether the death resulted from natural causes or if other parties were involved, demanding that any responsible individuals be prosecuted in accordance with the law. This incident underscores a broader pattern of unexplained deaths in the region.

The province of Gitega is frequently cited as a region in Burundi where incidents of murders, disappearances, and the discovery of bodies are regularly reported. These occurrences contribute to significant Burundi Gitega human rights concerns, drawing attention from both local and international bodies.

The Iteka League, a pioneering human rights organization disbanded in Burundi and operating from exile, has consistently raised alarms regarding human rights violations in the province. Furthermore, the discoveries of bodies and the reported murders have prompted expressions of concern from the Catholic bishops of Burundi, as well as Fortuné Gaëtan Zongo, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi. These widespread concerns are fueling urgent calls for thorough investigations to ascertain the precise circumstances of these deaths, identify those responsible, and ensure that alleged perpetrators are brought to justice.

Source: Original reporting via local Burundian media