I begged for mercy, they showed none, says boy nailed to tree over alleged radio theft

Collins Sambaya a 19-year-old who was nailed on a guava tree by his fellow villagers.

A teenager in Vihiga county is nursing injuries after being nailed to a tree.

Collins Sambaya, 19, was ‘crucified’ in Chamasili village.

He was nailed to a guava tree for two hours by his fellow villagers on Friday evening.

Sambaya is alleged to have stolen a radio.

His uncle Alex Kimanyani said the assailants reported that the radio and music mixer was worth Sh6,000 and that he should pay for it.

“I asked my nephew if indeed he had stolen and he denied it. We only agreed to pay them as they were threatening to harm him,” said Kimanyani.

Sambaya was accosted by two men who are well known to him.

Three days earlier, his assailants had reported the alleged theft at Lunyerere Police Post.

Sambaya, who is nursing injuries at Itando Mission Hospital, was summoned but released due to a lack of evidence linking him to the theft.

His grandfather Henry Lugalia narrated how the assailants have been targeting Sambaya since then.

“They have been threatening my grandson and yesterday he fell into their arms.”

On Friday, the suspects tricked Sambaya into following them to a house a few metres away.

Speaking at Itando Mission Hospital, Sambaya said he had no idea he was going to be assaulted.

“The assailants are people I know. They thought I stole the radio but I did not.” The two suspects then nailed him to the tree.

“I begged for mercy but it all fell on deaf ears.”

Sambaya remained nailed on the tree from 2pm to 4pm and would go unconscious while his assailants kept guard.

Alarmed by the screaming at one of the suspect’s home where the assault was taking place, one of the villagers called the chief who in turn alerted the police.

When the police arrived at 4pm to rescue Sambaya, they realised how difficult it would be to remove him from the tree. It was cut down before a medical officer sedated him and removed the nails.

The man identified as the mastermind behind the heinous act is said to have fled when the police arrived.

North Izava chief Evans Endesha said: “He was bleeding from the hands when we arrived. Neighbours were helpless as the assailants threatened to deal with anyone who offered help.”

A nurse from Itando Mission Hospital said Sambaya is in stable condition. At the hospital, his family and human rights activists urged the police to arrest the assailants.

“This is a case that needs no more investigations but the arrest of the culprits and arraignment,” said Stephen Chahasi, a human rights activist in Vihiga.