By Boniface Ongeri

An attempt by five female immigrants to sneak into Nairobi ended in gang rape near Bangale in Tana River District.

The gang is reportedly holding one of the women after the ordeal and police are looking for them.

The women were ambushed at Beneneka, 10km from Bangale, as they were going round a police barrier on foot to avoid arrest.

Narrating the ordeal, one of the victims said they were dropped few kilometres before the Bangale Police barrier by their smugglers who asked them to trek off the main Garissa-Nairobi highway.

Their fate appeared sealed after the smugglers were also arrested at the barrier.

They were left wandering in the bush before meeting a woman who took them to her homestead.

"We were in the woman’s house when about ten men came and dragged us into the bush where they repeatedly raped us and threatened us," she told The Standard after recording a statement with police.

"We were robbed of our valuables, including gold ornaments, mobile phones and money. Elders came to our rescue after word of our abduction went round but the gang went away with one of us who is 18 years old," she added.

Offered to help

The 26-year-old further said three women were able to travel onwards to Nairobi after the elders explained their predicament to motorists who offered to help. They had left Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, on July 1.

Four people, including the woman who hosted the immigrants, have been arrested.

A police officer, who sought anonymity, said the three men arrested are prime suspects and would help police in tracking down the missing woman.