KILIMANJARO, March 18 -- IT is 3 a.m. in a small village on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Three notorious thieves move quietly through the darkness, on their way to do what they know best—take by force what is not theirs.

Bold and unusually audacious, they are known for alerting their victims in advance of their intended raids. Tonight is no different.

Familiar with the terrain, they advance with confidence. But suddenly, out of the darkness, a group of women descends upon them. Armed with courage and fury, the women overpower the thieves, killing two.

The lone survivor flees into the night, running faster than he ever has in his life. When the police arrive, the women calmly declare that they all took part.

Faced with the im...