Banditry attacks claim five including two police officers in Isiolo ambush
Chief Inspector Adan Isaak Somo, an Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) officer who had previously served in the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, was among those killed on Wednesday while pursuing suspected livestock thieves.
At least five people, including two police officers were this week killed in a bandit ambush in Gotu, Isiolo County, in the latest escalation of armed attacks threatening communities across the region.
Chief Inspector Adan Isaak Somo, an Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) officer who had previously served in the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, was among those killed on Wednesday while pursuing suspected livestock thieves.
Somo and another ASTU officer, a National Police Reservist and two civilians were killed during an operation to recover a man who had reportedly been killed after getting lost in the thickets while returning home on Tuesday evening.
Isiolo County Police Commander Isaac Sang said the man’s relatives reported his disappearance at the Gotu ASTU post on Wednesday morning, prompting a search operation. The officers and local residents were ambushed by suspected bandits believed to have crossed from neighbouring Samburu County.
The attackers opened fire before fleeing into the thickets. Sang said police had recovered all five bodies by Wednesday afternoon and launched a pursuit using armoured vehicles.
The killings came a day after armed raiders attacked herders in Igembe Central, Meru County, stealing more than 120 cattle and shooting herdsman Haron Mwira, who later died from excessive blood loss.
The back-to-back attacks have renewed concerns over worsening banditry, cattle rustling and insecurity across Isiolo, Meru and neighbouring counties.
Isiolo Governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo condemned the Gotu attack and called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and security agencies to intensify patrols, intelligence gathering and security operations in the affected areas.
