Police officers in Igembe, Meru County, shot dead four suspected bandits and recovered several weapons.
The officers, who are part of the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), brought the bandits down following a raid on their hideout on Tuesday, May 13.
The four are said to have been members of a notorious gang accused of causing anarchy in Meru County. They were reportedly gunned down by the officers in Kubisera village, Igembe sub-county.
A police report said the bandits were shot during an operation carried out by a multi-agency team after security officers received a tip-off on the activities of the gang. The officers trailed the criminals and ambushed them inside their makeshift camp.
During the impromptu operation, the officers recovered several weapons believed to have been used by the gang to terrorise the residents. Among the items recovered were six AK-47 rifles, 527 bullets, and eight mobile phones.
"Our security officers continue to work day and night. This morning (Tuesday), multi-agency security teams acting on intelligence conducted a raid on a makeshift camp established by bandits at Kubisera village, Igembe," the officers revealed.
The police went on to add, "Our security team confronted and killed four armed bandits and recovered six AK47 rifles, 527 bullets, and eight mobile phones."
The ambush comes a fortnight after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced escalatory measures to curb the persistent banditry across the country.
Speaking in Isiolo County on April 30, Murkomen announced the planned deployment of more National Police Reservists (NPRs) across five counties, including Meru, Isiolo, Marsabit, Laikipia and Samburu.
He also revealed that chiefs in the aforementioned counties would be allowed to own firearms to defend themselves against cattle rustlers. According to the Interior Minister, the chiefs would first undergo training before being handed the guns.
Addressing the press, Murkomen stated that the process of selecting new NPRs would be conducted by specific government entities and not politicians to ensure transparency and accountability.
"We have come to understand the problems and find lasting solutions. Chiefs who are under threat should submit their names; we will train them on firearms use," Murkomen stated.
"We will pursue not only the bandits but also those who buy the livestock and sell the guns, whether it is the police or anyone else. The chiefs must name the cattle rustlers," he added.
