Issue 00660
April 9 - 15, 2011
issn 0856 - 9135

www.arushatimes.co.tz



Hyena attacks Mto-wa-Mbu family, kills baby, injures six adults

By Staff Reporter

A hyena, suspected to have been rabid, stormed into a residential house in Mto-wa-Mbu township of Monduli District, attacked a family, killing a child and wounding six other people.

The beast had made its way inside the house belonging to Mr Adam Juma, attacked the latter, his wife and two children and killed the youngest, Juma Said aged five months and who was fast asleep when the animal gnawed the child's head, biting off part of the skull.

The incident occurred in the course of last week.

“My neighbor, Mr Adam Juma was actually coming out of his house to assist me because he had seen the hyena trying to make its way into mine through a window,” said an eye witness Mr Daudi Mlangi who explained that as soon as Mr Juma opened his door the animal stormed into the latter's house and started attacking his family.

Mr Juma was hurt while trying to save his family as the hyena was ferociously attacking the wife Asha Idd, their daughter, Tatu Adam and little Juma Said who died in the ordeal. The animal also wounded three other people who turned up at the house to help the family.

The officer-in-charge at the Mto-wa-Mbu Police Station, Sergeant Thomas said he received a call at about 4.00 am but early reports claimed that a Lion was attacking the village; “But it turned out to be actually a hyena.

The animal was hunted down by angry villagers who managed to kill it later that day. The injured persons are still admitted at Monduli District Hospital.

The wild animal is reported to have made a horrid scene in the very late hours of the night at the Majengo 'C' section of Mto-wa-Mbu ward where it had started the mayhem by attacking a standby power generator which was left outside unguarded.

Arusha Regional Police Commander Mr Thobias Andengenye said the issue was still being investigated.