Journalists Killed in 2015 - Motive Unconfirmed: Christophe Nkezabahizi
| Publisher | Committee to Protect Journalists |
| Publication Date | 29 December 2015 |
| Cite as | Committee to Protect Journalists, Journalists Killed in 2015 - Motive Unconfirmed: Christophe Nkezabahizi, 29 December 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56849fb2e.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
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.
