Police officer killed, guns stolen in Marsabit banditry attack

A police officer was on Thursday evening shot and killed in a highway banditry attack at Malgis area in Laisamis Constituency on the Marsabit-Isiolo highway.

The incident happened 40 kilometres west of the county security headquarters and drew joint efforts of Logologo police officers and Laisamis security team before they were overwhelmed.

During the attack, the bandits drove away 25 herds of cattle, leaving behind trails of blood, shock and subjecting the highway to security threat.

Confirming the incident, Marsabit County Commissioner Nobert Komora said his officers are still pursuing the bandits to recover the stolen livestock.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that at around 1545hrs the officers who were on escort duties to Merille upon reaching the scene of the incident were sprayed with bullets, officers reacted but were overwhelmed," he said.

Drivers of the two trucks were injured on their foot and hip respectively while the other police officer was hit on the head and injured.

Back up security team later visited the scene, combed the area and found 20 cartridges of 7.62*51MM.

The attackers also made away with two G3 rifles belonging to the officers, with tension still high in the area.

The three injured persons have since been referred to Isiolo hospital from Laisamis for further medication and are currently in stable condition.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Eastern Regional Commissioner Paul Rotich confirmed plans to return the roadblocks previously removed.

Mr. Rotich also indicated extension of extensive highway patrols on the Marsabit-Isiolo highway to avert further attacks on innocent Kenyans plying the route.

“For one year, the highway has been peaceful, but unfortunately cattle rustlers are daring us to move our chess with speed. We will return to roadblocks to deal with bandits, drug dealers and aliens in equal measure,” stated the police boss.