A Congolese man was shot and killed by police after a gunbattle in the Olasho neighborhood of the Mokambo Border Post on the Zambian side. The man was suspected of being responsible for a string of violent thefts in Mufulira.
Along with the deceased, who is thought to have been their leader, they also detained two ex-convicts who were working with him. They also started a manhunt for three additional fugitives.
It is also thought that John Kayombo, also known as Eto in his circles, was responsible for the theft of a police cruiser two years ago.
The deadly shot happened on the Zambian side of the Mokambo border yesterday at or around 6:00 a.m., according to Copperbelt commanding officer Peacewell Mweemba.
He claimed that Kayombo, a man thought to be from the Congo, had been on the police’s most wanted list.
According to Mr. Mweemba, the Anti Robbery Squad shot and killed Kayombo following a firefight.
“Brief facts are that Mufulira district has been hit by a spate of Aggravated Robbery cases in which Taxi drivers are booked and later attacked by criminals armed with unknown type of firearms. The following were stolen in Mufulira a Toyota Sprinter registration numbet ADE 2409, property of Robert Banda, Toyota IST registration number AFB 3574ZM, property of M/Moses Tembo, Toyota Allion registration number AFB 1742, property of Heartson Benzu, and a Toyota Corolla VVTI, registration number ALG 2145, property of William Banda, all residents of Mufulira,” he said.
According to Mr. Mweemba, yesterday the Anti-Robbery Squad officers received information that resulted in the capture of the two wanted criminals, Mwansabamba Mwansa and Peter Mutuna Chakaba, both of whom were just released from jail and were on the wanted list.
“After interrogations, the two criminals admitted having participated in the four Mufulira aggravated robbery cases. They further revealed that the stolen vehicles were in Mokambo on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) side and were being kept by their boss John Kayombo ( alias Eto). The two criminals led police to Olasho area within Mokambo on the Zambian side, where they usually meet the said John kayombo,” he said.
He claimed that at 4:00 am, police in a Police Land Cruiser left for Olasho to conduct a home invasion.
Four persons were riding a motorcycle when the police arrived, according to Mr. Mweemba, and before the officers could stop them, they got off and began firing at them. The police returned fire, hitting Kayombo in the process.
“The other three managed to escape while the injured suspect, Kayombo was picked up, and a motor bike. The suspect was rushed to Ronald Ross Hospital where, upon arrival, was pronounced dead by the doctor on duty. An inquiry file has been opened on the shooting incident, and the motor bike kept as an exhibit. More to follow,” he said.
As a result of his involvement in the theft of a police Toyota Land Cruiser from Lusaka that was parked inside the Nyumba Yanga Police two years ago, Mr. Mweemba continued, Kayombo has been on the wanted list for a very long time.
He added that just before he passed away, Kayombo confessed to stealing the cars that the police are looking for.
