Audio By Carbonatix
Rwandan gospel music artist Kizito Mihigo has been found dead in a police cell, officers say.
It comes three days after he was arrested near the border with Burundi.
Police accused him of attempting to flee the country and join rebel groups fighting against Rwanda. He is banned from leaving Rwanda due to a previous conviction.
Mihigo was best known for the songs Inuma (pigeon) and Igisobanuri cy'urupfu (the meaning of death).
A statement shared on social media by police spokesman JB Kabeera said Mihigo's body was found during a routine check by officers at Remera police station on Monday morning. The spokesman gave no further details.
Mihigo had been charged with corruption and illegal border crossing, local media report.
The Rwanda Investigation Bureau accused the singer of attempting to bribe people who had seen him.
A resident in the south-western Nyaruguru district told BBC Great Lakes that on Thursday villagers had stopped the musician, who was carrying a heavy bag, and handed him over to police.
"I was there, I saw him. Villagers who stopped him said he was trying to cross to Burundi using illegal roads. From here to the border it's less than five minutes' walk," the resident, who declined to be named, said.
Some of Mihigo's fans took to social media demanding answers from the government about his death.
In 2015, the singer was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of planning to kill President Paul Kagame and inciting hatred against the government.
He was pardoned by the president in 2018 on condition that he only leave the country with judicial permission.
Mihigo was once close to the governing Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) party. He is a survivor of the 1994 genocide and is well known for his reconciliation work and religious songs.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Mr President, Ghana was mentioned at the UN; why aren’t we talking about it?
2 hours -
Accra to convene Africa’s regulators and markets on tokenisation at AVAS 2026
2 hours -
The Paradox of Plenty — When every smartphone becomes a newsroom
2 hours -
GTA sensitises taxi drivers in ‘Know Ghana’ tourism campaign
4 hours -
Archbishop Agyinasare calls for responsible speech amid growing social media abuse
4 hours -
‘It will be inexcusable for gov’t not to honour payment of teachers’ arrears by 30th October’ – Haruna Iddrisu
4 hours -
Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026: No Ghanaian firm ranked among 900 companies
4 hours -
Electronic processing of teachers’ data: ‘The decision is the Controller’s’ – GES boss
4 hours -
Teachers’ Strike: Haruna Iddrisu questions paper-based processing of promoted teachers’ data
4 hours -
Savannah Region: Kunfusi bridge collapses again, leaving nearly 4,000 residents cut off
4 hours -
Teachers’ strike: GES targets Monday deadline to submit promotion data to Controller
4 hours -
Inflation to average 11.3% in 2027 – Fitch Solutions
5 hours -
‘I didn’t campaign for NDC to come and do this nonsense’ – Kpebu on EOCO’s conduct
5 hours -
Fitch Solutions maintains policy rate forecast of 14% by December 2026
5 hours -
Diaspora Nasara Caucus congratulates Mohammed Ali Suraj, new NPP executives
6 hours