NORTHERN PROVINCE

GICUMBI —  Police in Byumba is holding a strange animal that reportedly scared residents in Kageyo sector last week.

The strange and scary animal with stature of a Crocodile was found hiding under the ground by farmers of Horezo cell, in the early morning hours while tilling a virgin ground.

As soon as its hide out was uncovered, the animal which appears shy and less hostile rushed out screaming like a pig prompting the farmers to scatter shouting for help.

apparently nobody was hurt in the process.
Later local leaders and residents picked courage and held it by its tail and took it to Byumba Police station on a Wheelbarrow, where it is currently being held pending transfer to a suitable habitat by tourism officials.

Nobody had ever seen it before and efforts to figure out its name have also been futile. Residents say it feeds on termites and soil.

One elder only identified as Pascal said it is a Ruteminkuba, literally translated as thunderstorm striker.

The animal has a white tortoise- like hard body surface, moves on four legs and at times stands on two legs like a Kangaroo.

It hides its head underneath the hard body shells while asleep and shies away from people while moving, as a hyena does.

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