DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The government of Tanzania has identified suspects in connection with the recent brutal killings of 10 children in the southern Njombe region, a senior official told the National Assembly on Wednesday.
Kangi Lugola, the Minister for Home Affairs, could not give details on the identification of the suspects on investigative reasons.
"We regret the killing of our children, these incidences are associated with superstitious beliefs," Lugola told the House in the capital Dodoma, adding that legal measures will soon be taken against the culprits.
"Preliminary investigations have shown that almost all the killings were based on superstitious beliefs," said the minister when he was responding to a question posed by Mufindi South constituency Member of Parliament, Mendrad Kigola.
The lawmaker had wanted to know measures being taken by the government to curb the killings of innocent children in Njombe region.
On Tuesday, the United Nations in Tanzania condemned the suspected ritual killings of 10 children in the east African nation's southern highland region of Njombe.
"The United Nations in Tanzania offers its deepest condolences to the families and communities of children who have been brutally murdered in Njombe over the last few weeks," the UN said in a statement.
"Children have a fundamental right to be safe and be protected from violence so that they can enjoy their childhood and reach their full potential," the statement said.
"The UN joins the government of the United Republic of Tanzania in condemning these heinous acts. As the UN, we stand ready to support the government in their efforts to address the issue," said Alvaro Rodriguez, UN Resident Coordinator in Tanzania.
Ruth Msafiri, Njombe District Commissioner, said on Monday a total of 10 children's dead bodies were discovered in different parts of the town, some being slaughtered and their body parts removed.
The Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Hamad Masauni, swore that the government will hunt all the killers and bring them to book.
