Armed bandits kill woman, steal 100 sheep in Laikipia

Armed bandits raided a homestead in Laikipia on Thursday night and killed a woman before driving off a hundred sheep and goats.

The attackers struck at a manyatta in Naibor area of Laikipia North Sub-county along the Laikipia and Samburu counties border and made away with the livestock towards a neighbouring county.

Laikipia County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri while confirming the incident said that security personnel were immediately mobilised after the 1:00 am attack to pursue the armed raiders but were not able to recover the animals.

“We are deploying more security personnel in the area to diffuse the tension that is building up pitting two ethnic communities that live in the area. We aim to prevent retaliatory attacks as the whole situation might easily escalate into a full-blown inter-community conflict,” Kanyiri said.

He added that security personnel deployed in the area had been given firm instructions to deal with any civilian who is armed as a way of containing the situation.

“We are taking this matter with a lot of caution since both communities are in possession of illegal firearms and the situation could become worse,” the County Commissioner added.

There is high tension in the area, with some of the local schools closed after parents withdrew their children in anticipation of more clashes.

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