U.S College Students Lost In Africa

A group of U.S New Mexican college students have been reported missing for five days after they did not return from a recent trip to Rutenga, Zimbabwe, Africa. They were language students who were learning Swahili and decided to go to Africa to use their new linguistic skills amongst natives who spoke Swahili. They were camped just in-between the native’s village and a Zimbabwean base camp for an entire week but were suspected missing when they did not return to the base on their last day.

The student’s are 21 year old TayShaun Lewis, 18 year old Yuki Hayashi, 20 year old Ian Hall, and 19 year old Derek Sixkiller, none of which got on the flight back to the U.S. When Zimbabwean base-workers were sent to check their camp, they found that it was completely destroyed. No one was there and all that was left were scattered clothes, supplies, and battered tents. There was no sign of blood or bodies until one Zimbabwean entered the native’s village beyond the campsite.

The body of an elderly Zimbabwean woman was found behind a tree; it was clear that she had been shot six times. The bullets have been identified as ammunition commonly used for an AK-47. Zimbabwean’s immediately related the attack to anti-refugee gang violence and find it to not be surprising due to the constant violence & gun crimes throughout Zimbabwe and all of Africa. Its suspected that several villagers fled during the attack while others may have been taken as hostages. Its unsure if the students and their teacher fled as well, or were taken as hostages.

No further information has been gathered and there have been no signs of any of the students or their teacher. The villagers never returned. The student’s closest contacts have already been informed of their disappearance and the family of one of the students has issued a search throughout the jungle beyond the village and the campsite. The student’s whereabouts are still unknown.