Cops arrest five members of machete-wielding gang in Mombasa

Police in Mombasa have arrested five youths belonging to an organised criminal gang identified as 'Panga Boys'.

In a statement on Sunday, the National Police Service said the five were arrested in the Mjambere ward in Kisauni Sub County.

The five include; Abdul Shakur Charo, Lukman Said Salim, Omar Rajab Omar, Masuud Mohammed Bwana and Nahim Akinyi Ongut.

Police said the five were armed with Pangas when they were arrested on Sunday morning by police officers on patrol.

They were also found in possession of Marijuana.

"The five whose group derive its name from their preferred weapon of choice, were armed with Pangas (matchetes) and were on a mission to commit serious crimes within Soko Mjinga Area," Police said.

"They were disarmed and five Pangas recovered from them. The gang members, who were also in possession of Marijuana, were placed in police cells pending arraignment."

NPS called on members of the public who may have fallen victim to atrocities by the gang to report to Mjambere police station for further police action.

The gang members arrest comes a few days after five thugs captured on CCTV assaulting members of the public in Mombasa’s old town were arrested.

The five were separately arrested in the Kibokoni, Kikowani and Makadara areas of Mombasa town.

The suspected include Noordin Mohamed, Brian Ogutu, Vidich Nzilu, Ahmed Ali and Abdala Mohamed.

Detectives said that the five belong to a recently formed notorious squad known as the ‘Haipingwi’ gang, responsible for the sudden rise of crime in Mombasa’s Old town.