Security personnel reportedly absent as one brutally murdered at Rubis filling station robbery in Lusaka

Police in Lusaka have launched an investigation following a brutal incident of aggravated robbery and murder that occurred during the early hours of Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Rubis Filling Station located at the Crossroads of Alick Nkhata and Kudu Roads in the Hellen Kaunda area.

The report was officially received at 08:00 hours by Mtendere Police from David Phiri, aged 28, Station Manager for Rubis Filling Station, according to Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga.

Hamoonga confirmed this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday.

Preliminary police investigations reveal that on July 15, 2025, at about 15:00 hours, two fuel attendants reported for duty, scheduled to knock off at 07:00 hours on July 16, 2025.

However, at approximately 03:00 hours, the attendants were ambushed and violently attacked by an unknown number of criminals suspected to have been armed with unidentified weapons.

“The two attendants have been identified as:

Sibeso Akaliwa, age not yet established who sustained severe head injuries inflicted with an unknown object and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital.
Mapalo Mwelwa, who is currently battling for his life at the hospital after sustaining multiple head injuries from the assault. He remains in critical condition,” Hamoonga said.

He stated that the two were reportedly locked inside the service office during the attack.

Hamoonga said a third employee, Charity Mwaleishi, aged 19, a cashier who was asleep in the adjoining shop office, was fortunately unharmed and reportedly did not hear the incident unfold.

“It is also worth noting that the two security guards from White Hat Security Company, only known as Boniface and Lungu, were not present at the premises at the time of the attack and were not found on site when the manager arrived,” he said.

Hamoonga said officers swiftly responded to the scene, conducted a thorough inspection, and documented evidence.

He said the office door leading to the safe had been forcibly opened in an attempt to rescue the victims. While the safe showed signs of tampering, initial findings indicate that no money was stolen from it.

“However, an undisclosed amount of daily sales believed to have been in the custody of the victims is missing,” Hamoonga said.

He inducated that at this stage, no arrests had been made, and no property had been recovered.

Hamoonga appealed to members of the public who may have any information that could assist in the investigations to report to the nearest police station.

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