Police officers are in pursuit of four bandits who stormed a police patrol base in Laikipia North subcounty on Monday and took away a gun and other assorted items.
Area police boss Ancent Kaloki on Tuesday said a team of General Service Unit officers and their colleagues from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations were pursuing the four who stole the weapon at Ewaso police patrol base at the border of Laikipia and Isiolo counties.
“On Monday noon, a group of four men all armed with AK 47 rifles, went to the post that is under Kimanjo police station and found police constable Elisha Okoth in the report office. They ordered him to hand over his firearm which he held or they shoot him,” Kaloki said.
He said the officer handed the G3 weapon with two magazines with 40 rounds of ammunition.
As they were leaving, Kaloki said, they broke into Okoth’s house and took away his police uniforms, two jungle trousers, one jungle shirt, one smoke jacket and one green jungle hat.
The officer said no bullets were fired during the incident, adding that the bandits crossed to the Oldonyiro side of the boundary in Ewaso River direction in Isiolo county.
“A combined team of GSU, DCI and regular police has moved to the area with the help of tracking canines and a light aircraft from a neighbouring conservancy to track the bandits,” Kaloki told the Star on the phone.
He said two suspects have been arrested and are helping police officers with investigations.
The key suspect is being traced through mobile technology because he is using a phone.
“In a span of less than two days, we will have nabbed him. We shall ensure we not only recover the stolen government weapon, but also the other guns they are illegally possessing,” Kaloki said.
The incident comes in the wake of escalating insecurity cases in Laikipia county occasioned by armed bandits who have killed about eight people, maimed others and displaced hundreds of families in addition to stealing livestock.
-Edited by SKanyara
