Shooting in Muzema leaves four dead and 14 buses hijacked as barricades
Four people died in a violent confrontation in Muzema, Rio de Janeiro. Criminal groups hijack 14 buses to block streets in the region.
Four dead in Muzema after confrontation between militia and traffickers
Four people died and one was injured during intense gunfire on Saturday night in Muzema, in the south-western zone of Rio de Janeiro, reports CNN Portugal. Among the fatalities is a woman, identified as Josiane Dias de Assunção Maia. The other three dead are men whose identities have not yet been established. The Civil Police opened an investigation to clarify the circumstances of the confrontation.
The injured man is a resident of the area, hit in the leg whilst returning home on a motorcycle. The authorities indicated that the man had no connection to the confrontations. "I found my husband alone, covered in blood. It is very upsetting," said the victim's partner in an interview with Globo. The man was taken to Lourenço Jorge Municipal Hospital in Barra da Tijuca and is in a stable condition.
The violence is believed to be associated with a dispute for territorial control between militia groups and traffickers linked to the Comando Vermelho. The faction has sought to expand its influence over various areas of the south-western zone of Rio de Janeiro, in a dispute that involves the communities of Jacarepaguá and Itanhangá. Confrontations between traffickers and militia in Muzema had already been recorded in the days before.
14 buses hijacked to block streets
The escalation of violence caused significant disruptions to local transport. According to Rio Ônibus, the union of bus companies in Rio de Janeiro, 14 vehicles were hijacked and used as barricades to block streets between Muzema, Curicica, Gardênia Azul and Taquara, affecting several lines that run through the Jacarepaguá region.
The Military Police reinforced patrols in the most sensitive areas and managed to restore traffic flow. The Capital Homicide Division continues its proceedings to identify the perpetrators of the homicides and reconstruct the dynamics of the confrontation.
Barricades with buses become a recurring strategy
The use of buses as barricades has become an increasingly frequent practice amongst criminal groups in Rio de Janeiro. Last week, on 26 August, 19 buses were hijacked to block streets in Cascadura and Campinho, in the northern zone of the city, following a police operation. The next day, in Cidade de Deus, two vehicles were similarly used to obstruct one of the main roads in the community.
Data released by Rio Ônibus reveal a concerning trend: the number of incidents involving buses used as barricades more than doubled between 2024 and 2025, recording an increase of 113 per cent. Throughout 2025, 99 hijackings of this type have been recorded, according to the union.
Source: CNN Portugal