Sumbawanga — TWO motorcyclists narrowly cheated death at Sintali Village, Nkasi District, in Rukwa Region, when an irate mob pounced on them before setting their motorbikes on fire after mistaking them for hard core criminals.

It is alleged that the "bodaboda" riders were carrying two passengers each, suspected to be hard core criminals, from Sumbawanga on their way to Sintali Village, in Nkasi District.

The Rukwa Regional Police Commander, Mr Jacob Mwaruanda, said that the incident occurred on January 29, this year, shortly before mid night at Sintali Village. The RPC named the riders as John Patrick (18), and Raymond Kapita (23), both residents of Bangwe Street in Sumbawanga Town.

He, however, declined to release the names of the four suspected hardcore criminals who are still at large. Narrating the incident, the RPC said on that day at around 8:00 p.m. the alleged criminals hired bodabodas to ferry them to the outskirt of Sintali Village, where they intended to collect a debt from a businessperson.

Mr Mwaruanda further explained that when they were approaching the house of the businessman in the village, identified as Shimu Sikungu alias Gumalano (39), the four passengers ordered the cyclists to stop and wait for them while they consult their host.