A seventh-grade student from Isenga Primary School in Ilemela, Mwanza, orchestrated a fake kidnapping of herself and her younger brother. The 12-year-old girl allegedly stole 150,000 Tanzanian Shillings before staging the kidnapping while they were on their way to school.
Mwanza Regional Police Commander, Wilbroad Mutafungwa, addressed the media on July 5, 2024, explaining the bizarre sequence of events. According to Mutafungwa, the girl demanded money from her mother, pretending that unknown kidnappers were holding her and her brother captive.
Commander Mutafungwa detailed how the mother reported the kidnapping to the police, claiming she had received phone calls from alleged kidnappers demanding a ransom for her children’s release.
“After receiving the report, we opened an investigation and began tracking the situation. On July 4, 2024, at 8:30 AM, we located the children in Shibayi neighborhood, Nyamagana district,” said Mutafungwa.
The children were found in a rented room owned by Agness Magusu, a 50-year-old woman who rents out rooms for business. The police discovered that on July 3, 2024, the girl had stolen 150,000 Shillings from her mother and hid the money in one of her notebooks.
“Before reaching school, she changed out of her uniform into a dress, took her 8-year-old brother, and went to Buhongwa. They found Agness’s house and asked for a room to rent, but Agness refused and advised the girl to contact her parents,” Mutafungwa explained.
Following this, the girl called her mother, falsely claiming that she and her brother had been kidnapped, and asked for additional money to be sent to the supposed kidnappers for their release.
The mother, instead of paying the ransom, reported the incident to the police. The police search led to the children being found, with the girl having already purchased a three-by-six-foot mattress, a mobile phone, and household items with the stolen money.
“In her statement, the girl admitted that no kidnapping had occurred. I urge parents to stay close to their children because it seems many children are raising themselves. Parents are often too busy, leaving children to make significant decisions that are not always good,” Mutafungwa advised.
Sarah Charles, the mother of the children, expressed shock over the incident, stating that her daughter had never shown any tendencies toward theft or problematic behavior.
“I had brought the money from church and told her to keep it safe until I needed it the next day. She agreed, and I reminded her in the morning as they prepared for school. When they left, I forgot to ask for the money. Later, I received a message from an unknown number asking me to call back. When I did, a heavy voice claiming to be my daughter said my children had been kidnapped,” Sarah recounted.
She added that upon contacting the school, she learned from the teachers that her children had not attended that day. The unknown caller later told her they were taking care of her children and allowed her to speak with her daughter, who claimed not to know her location.
“I have raised these children well. I do not understand what got into my daughter. Even now, it is difficult to comprehend. She is only 12 years old,” said Sarah, still bewildered by the incident.
