According to the police, the gunmen trooped into the police post on the evening of Wednesday, November 9, 2022, and attacked an officer who was manning the station.
At the time, two other cops who were on duty had left the station. The men believed to be bandits stole nine G3 magazines containing a total of 180 rounds of ammunition and an AK47 rifle that had 30 rounds of ammunition.
“Two bandits wrestled an officer to the ground and asked for keys to the steel box which the officer said he did not have. The bandits then entered his house where the steel box was kept and broke the padlocks,” police stated.
As the four bandits were leaving the post, they shot in the air before fleeing into a nearby bush.
Following the unfortunate occurrence of events, the Samburu North County police commander mobilized officers from Marti, Baragoi and DCI Samburu North to the crime scene. The officers recovered three used cartridges.
Cases of bandit attacks have been on the rise despite continuous efforts by law enforcement officers to reduce the instances.
Police have gone to the extent of using force to eliminate the attackers who cause sleepless nights to citizens in bandit-stricken areas.
Recently Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki defended the use of force by the police in bandit-stricken areas.
“I agree violence is not an option but it’s one of the options when it comes to the banditry issue because how will you engage with a criminal who has stolen cows from an innocent person and is hiding in a gorge?” Kindiki posed.
“Even the most established democracies must use violence to protect the 99% of its citizens against the 1% that want to destroy our democracy. I have no apologies to make about this. Criminals have to be faced as criminals, period!” he added.
Kindiki, a lawyer by profession, also assured the nation that even in the security operations, the Kenya Kwanza administration would follow the law.
“Some force has to be used but I also assure the nation that we will follow the law,” Kindiki stated.
The CS was responding to concerns from Pokot South Member of Parliament (MP) David Pkosing over the conduct of security officers in regions battling the menace of bandit attacks.
Last month, 11 people including eight police officers were killed in a banditry attack in Turkana East.
In a statement, the National Police Service said a local chief and two civilians were killed on September 25.
“The National Police Service regrets to inform on the criminal and cowardly ambush by cattle rustling bandits on innocent members of the public and police officers,” the NPS said in a statement.
“A local chief, two members of the public and eight police officers succumbed to the injuries. We have dispatched additional officers to reinforce the troops on the ground in beefing up security in the area and pursue the bandits,” NPS added.
