Malawi Police clarify on Biwi Filling Station ‘robbery’

Authorities report that the shooting incident which took place on Tuesday at Biwi Filling Station in Lilongwe involved law enforcement personnel from the Anti-Motor Vehicle Theft Unit, who were executing an ambush on a suspected car thief.

Central West Region Police Spokesperson, Foster Benjamin, states that the suspect, known as Chimwemwe Banda, allegedly rented a vehicle in Blantyre in December but did not return it to the owner before attempting to rent another vehicle from a different individual.

Benjamin indicates that police officers intervened to apprehend the suspect; however, he jumped into a friend’s vehicle and fled.

CCTV footage that has been shared on social media depicts officers trying to force open the vehicle before it accelerated away.

Nevertheless, Benjamin reports that police were able to shoot two of the vehicle’s tyres during the chase.

The vehicle was subsequently discovered abandoned at Mchesi, while the suspect managed to escape.

Benjamin mentions that this has led police to initiate a manhunt for Banda.