Army commander accused of extra-judicial killings assassinated

dimeji akinloye

March 22, 2016 7:25 PM

Ikurakure was killed on Tuesday, March 22, from a vehicle that drove past the entrance to the army headquarters, officials said.

___4836626___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___4836626___2016___3___22___19___Burundi-Army

A commander in the Burundian army, Lt. Col.

Ikurakure was killed on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, from a vehicle that drove past the entrance to the army headquarters, officials said.

It was gathered that the late commander was standing near a notice board in the yard when the killer bullet hit him. This was at the time many officers had left the headquarters for lunch.

Before his murder, Ikurakure had been accused by opposition politicians and family members of people who have disappeared of involvement in torture and extra-judicial killings.

But the lieutenant colonel had never responded to such accusations.

READ: African leaders trying to push Pierre Nkurunziza to take peacekeepers

Burundi has been in crisis since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced nearly a year ago that he would seek a third term in office, in spite a constitutional two-term limit, and won an election in July.

According to the UN, over 400 people have been killed and more than 250,000 have fled abroad.

dimeji akinloye