Rwanda National Police (RNP) on Sunday, February 5 paraded Usto Hafashimana alias Yussuf who is alleged to have committed several brutal murders in different parts of Kigali. The alleged serial killer was arrested on February 3, with three handsets belonging to three victims killed including Leonce Nshimiyimana, Vedaste Gafaranga and Gideon Nyakabanda. Police officials said the accused had confessed to murdering four guards in the last two months, while the other two that he had attempted to kill survived with severe injuries. Hafashimana who is currently held at Kigali metropolitan police told the media during his parading that he used machetes to hack his victims. “I killed four people and the other two survived,” the 34-year old Hafashimana said. He added: “There was no other interest, I only targeted sleeping security guards.” He claims to have committed his first murder three months ago. “For theft. I had a couple of companions, but I always committed murder alone,” he said. Hafashimana’s arrest follows reports on four murder cases and two far-reaching injuries in different areas of the capital. Two of the victims were killed in a gruesome manner. Hafashimana beheaded them and disposed the heads far away from the body, leaving residents shocked and gripped in fear. Vedaste Hagenimana, who is left half blind after the assailant attempted to behead him, pleaded for support, citing that his body still bears pain from the incident. “He found us sleeping, and hacked us with a machete. We suddenly cried out for help from the neighbours,” said Hagenimana. Hagenimana survived alongside Filimini Nzabagerageza, whose arm was cut off by Hafashimana. The survivors were rushed to Kanombe Military Hospital, and according to Police, are gradually recovering. Hafashimana said that the last person he killed was Leonce Nshimiyimana who had just released from Nyarugenge prison. The latter was beheaded while they were sleeping in a bush waiting to carry out housebreaking in Rusororo sector. Hafashimana said that after beheading Nshimiyimana he took his head and dumped it in a swamp connecting Rusororo and Masaka sectors. He added that he also dumped the head of one street boy identified as Matayo, in Rwampala in a water channel that flows to Nyabarongo river. Hafashimana has taken investigators to all the crime scenes where killed or dumped his victims’ heads. Addressing the media, Police spokesperson CP John Bosco Kabera said: “Police was able to arrest him following intensive investigations. The suspect has since confessed and his confessions correlate with the reported murder and serious assault cases.” He added: “Going forward, the suspect will be handed over to authorities in charge of further and thorough investigation to be able to handle this case.” Police is to hand Hafashimana to Rwanda Investigation Bureau for further investigation and case processing. Hafashimana hails from Ngororero district. He first came to Kigali in 2012 searching for a job and immediately embarked on robberies. He was mainly involved in housebreaking robberies.
