Journalists Killed in 2015 - Motive Unconfirmed: Christophe Nkezabahizi

Radio Television Nationale du Burundi
October 13, 2015, in Bujumbura, Burundi

Nkezabahizi, a cameraman for the state-run station RTNB, was one of at least seven people killed when police raided his neighborhood to search for a group suspected of kidnapping three police officers, according to news reports. Nkezabahizi's wife and two teenage children were also killed in the raid, reports said.

Pierre Nkurikiye, a police spokesman, told Voice of America the victims had been caught in the crossfire as police searched the Ngagara neighbourhood of northern Bujumbura for their kidnapped colleagues. Nkurikiye said the victims were killed by shots fired by the criminals who, he said, were trying to hide in houses.

Some residents were cited in news reports as saying the victims had been shot in the head or chest by police. One Burundian journalist familiar with the case, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told CPJ the journalist and his family were killed in their home. CPJ was unable to verify the journalist's account.

Nkezabahizi had worked with RTNB since it was founded in 1984, reports said.

Motive Unconfirmed: CPJ is investigating to determine whether the death was work-related.

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