By Santos Zefania

Lilongwe June 13, Mana: Police at Gateway Mall in Lilongwe have arrested four men for allegedly terrorizing and committing a series of motorcycle robberies in the city.

Lilongwe Police Public Relations Officer, Hastings Chigalu said the law enforcers have since recovered from the suspects, three stolen motorcycles.

The suspects have been identified as Maliko Ngaika, 43, Chisomo Njeulira, 19, Hassan Kalisto, 41, and Patrick Banda, 24.

"In one of the robbery incidents, on 28 May this year, at around 19:00 hours, the first suspect (Ngaika), approached a certain motorcycle taxi operator who was refueling his bike at Kafoteka Filling Station, asking for a ride to Area 9.

"Upon reaching Area 9, Ngaika told the motorcyclist to stop close to a certain unfinished house," explained Chigalu.

“However, immediately after making such a stop, Ngaika strangled the motorcyclist on the neck before two other criminals emerged from where they were hiding and joined in the assaulting of the motorcyclist,” he added.

Chigalu said the criminals later disappeared with the motorcycle while leaving the victim bleeding at the scene.

Law enforcers first arrested Ngaika, who later revealed the identities of his three accomplices and led the police to the location where the stolen motorcycles had been sold, resulting in their recovery.

Marko Ngaika comes from Emba Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Masumbankhunda, Lilongwe, Hassan Kalisto is from Ntonda Village, T/A Kalembo, and Chisomo Njeulira hails from Muwoja Village, T/A Kachenga, both in Balaka, while Patrick Banda comes from Gabriel Village, T/A Mulumbe in Zomba District.

The suspects will be taken to court soon to answer robbery charges.