News Africa

Tanzanian student taken hostage by Hamas confirmed dead

Clemence Felix Mtenga, 22, was one of two Tanzanians taken by the group on 7 October. It is unclear how he died.

The country’s foreign ministry said it was in touch with Israel over the other Tanzanian hostage, Joshua Mollel.

More than 230 hostages were taken in the assault by Hamas, and at least 1,200 people were killed.

Israel says the hostages – which were taken from Israel to the Gaza Strip – come from 25 countries, including one South African who is yet to be identified.

Approximately 260 Tanzanians study agriculture in Israel and both Mr Mtenga and Mr Mollel had been in the country as part of an agricultural internship programme, Israel’s foreign ministry said on X.

The pair had only landed in Israel in September and were due to study there for 11 months.

Mr Mtenga had been living on Kibbutz Nir Oz and working at a dairy farm in the afternoons, a friend and fellow student told the BBC.

When news of his kidnapping broke last month, his sister said his whole family were worried about him, but remained hopeful he would be rescued.

She said: “He should be courageous where he is, know that we love him and that we pray for him day and night, hoping that he will be back soon.”

Tanzania’s foreign ministry said Mr Mtenga’s family had been informed, and that officials were liaising with the Israeli government to send his body home.

Mr Mollel’s situation is currently unclear.

Before it was confirmed that he had been taken hostage, his father told the BBC he could not eat or sleep because he was desperate to know what had happened to him.

The last words he said to his son before he disappeared were: “Be on your best behaviour because you’re somewhere new, and make the most of the internship you’re there to do.”

A total of four hostages have been released so far, with another freed by Israeli forces.

Hamas – considered a terrorist organisation by the UK, the US and some other countries – says it has hidden the hostages in “safe places and tunnels” within Gaza.

 

Source: bbc.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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