Kombi Passengers Save 16-Year-Old Girl From Axe-Wielding Robber
A quick-thinking kombi crew and their passengers intervened to rescue a teenager from an armed robbery in Mutare on Saturday night.
Acting Manicaland police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, confirmed the arrest of Saymore Chikaya, 19, of D188 Federation, Chikanga, for the alleged attempted robbery of a 16-year-old.
Police said Chikaya was armed with an axe and a catapult when he targeted the teenager, who was walking home along a footpath from the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) Church in Chikanga shortly after 10:30 PM.
“On May 2, 2026, at around 10:35 pm, the complainant was walking towards home from the Apostolic Church Mission (AFM) Chikanga, Mutare, using a foot path,” said Asst Insp Chinyoka.
“Upon reaching a bridge that connects her home and the church, the accused person emerged from a nearby bushy area, wielding an iron axe in one hand and a catapult in the other.
“The complainant tried to run away, but Chikaya caught up with her.
“The accused then raised his iron axe, threatened to strike the complainant with it if she made any sound and ordered her to surrender all her valuables.
“The accused person forcibly took the complainant’s Samsung A31 cellphone from her right hand, and a scuffle ensued.”
Added Assistant Wiseman Chinyoka: “As the scuffle continued, a commuter omnibus Toyota Hiace, registration number AEG 0200, driven by Silas Mutseneki and loaded with passengers, approached the area.
“When the driver noticed the scuffle, he stopped the vehicle.
“The conductor, Kudakwashe Bindi, with the help of other passengers, managed to apprehend the accused and recovered the complainant’s Samsung A31 cellphone, an iron axe and a catapult.”
More: H-Metro
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