•The armed gang ambushed the two herders and shot them dead before turning the terror on the police reservist who tried to fight them.
•The attack brings to 10, the total deaths reported in the area in the last two weeks, officials said.
Three people including a National Police Reservist were Saturday killed at Mlango in Burat ward, Isiolo by bandits.
Authorities suspect the attackers crossed from neighbouring Samburu County and were after camels in the area.
This came days after two others were killed in Loruko area in a similar clash.
The armed gang ambushed the two herders and shot them dead before turning the terror on the police reservist who tried to fight them.
Police said the attackers stole the deceased’s s firearm and an unknown number of livestock from the area.
This has sparked tensions and fears of retaliation from the affected people.
Isiolo County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding said a manhunt for the criminals and efforts to recover the firearm continues.
He added more personnel had been sent to the area to boost an operation on the gangs raiding Isiolo.
“We are coordinating with other leaders to address this menace,” he said.
The attack brings to 10, the total deaths reported in the area in the last two weeks, officials said.
Last week, on February 14 at Ndonyo Kinyua area, one Longor Murukapel reported that while NPR officers were on patrol, they encountered a group of cattle rustlers who were driving away stolen camels and a shootout ensued where they overpowered the bandits who escaped to an unknown destination.
About 100 camels were recovered with no injury being reported.
Local leaders and residents have blamed the government for doing little to end the senseless killings in the area.
They want the area to be included among those under curfew and operation to get rid of illegal arms.
The locals lamented that the troubled area was slowly turning into a battlefield robbing women of their husbands and children of their parents.
They want security agencies to step up efforts to end banditry attacks that were happening on Isiolo side.
They argued gunmen are now invading the area for animals and authorities are doing little to address the trend. Isiolo remains a troubled area as gunmen have been raiding there for animals which left many dead and injured.
Tens of animals are stolen from local herders hence the outcry.
An earlier disarmament exercise in Isiolo took away dozens of firearms the locals used to protect themselves.