President Nkurunziza

Authorities in Burundi on Wednesday arrested more than 150 people as part of a crackdown on government opponents.

Anschaire Nikoyagize, president of the Burundian League for Human Rights, said that the men were being held at the central Gitega province.

“Some of the detainees had been killed and others tortured,” Nikoyagize said.

Gitega Governor Venant Manirambona put the number of detainees at 100 and said they were arrested on charges of joining a rebel movement seeking to overthrow the government.

Manirambona did not give details on the rebel movement the detainees allegedly supported.

It would be recalled that President Pierre Nkurunziza thwarted a coup attempt in May, and the plotters vowed to repeat the attempt if the president extended his rule.

Defying such warnings, Nkurunziza won a July 21 presidential election boycotted by the opposition.

The East African country has been gripped by violence since April, when Nkurunziza announced his intention to seek a third term in office.

Opponents say the constitution only allows presidents to serve two five-year terms.

About 100 people are estimated to have been killed in related protests and attacks.