14-year-old boy whose disappearance caused his family to vandalise Chilipa Police Unit found alive and safe

* Left home on his own accord without notifying his mother who reported him missing at Mangochi Police Station

* The mother accused 38-year-old resident Shaibu Zangwa of being connected to her son’s disappearance

* And when his life was threatened, the police subsequently detained Zangwa for his safety which infuriated the boy’s family

By Duncan Mlanjira

A 14-year-old boy, Alli Nuru, whose disappearance a few weeks ago led to his relatives destroying Chilipa Police Unit in Mangochi following a disagreement over the handling of a suspect, has been found alive and brought safely back home.

Mangochi Police Station public relations officer, lnspector Amina Tepani Daudi reports that, upon his return the boy explained that he left home on his own accord without notifying his mother.

Inspector Daudi reports that two weeks ago, the boy’s mother, Amina Alidi, 38, reported the disappearance of her son at Chilipa Police Unit where she was advised to continue searching for the child while police instituted investigations into the matter.

And on August 24, 2026, the mother returned to the police where he alleged that a resident of the same area Shaibu Zangwa, 38, was suspected to be connected to her son’s disappearance.

After an angry mob threatened to attack Zangwa, the Police subsequently detained for his safety after and later transferred him to Mangochi Police Station for safe custody.

However, the following day, Daudi reports, “relatives of the missing child vandalised structures at Chilipa Police Unit, including the court building, and injured a police officer before fleeing the village”.

“On August 29, 2026, the missing child was spotted loitering around Balaka Township, where well-wishers identified him and brought him back home.

“Upon being interviewed, Alli disclosed that he had travelled to Balaka with his friends, where he had been doing piecework, including selling mandasi for a certain family, without his mother’s knowledge.”

Daudi reports that Zangwa has since been cleared of any involvement in the child’s disappearance, while manhunt for the mother and her accomplices continues.

“Once arrested, they are expected to face charges of malicious damage and unlawful wounding,” she said, while advising members of the public to desist from taking the law into their own hands and instead allow law enforcement agencies to handle matters.

The damage that the mother’s family caused included eight window panes and the main entrance door at the police unit, as well as four window panes at Chilipa Magistrate Court.

Police officers attempted to disperse the group using tear gas, but the effort was unsuccessful while one police officer sustained bruises during the incident and was treated as an outpatient at Chilipa Health Centre.