Over Sh2 million hijacked Cargo recovered by Nakuru Police

Police from flying squad in Nakuru have recovered an assortment of goods worth Sh2million that were hijacked by armed gang at Umash along Nakuru-Nairobi Highway on Sunday night.

During the incident which occurred around 9 p.m, the gang of four which is said to have been armed with crude weapons including machetes also left the driver and turn boy seriously injured.

The attackers are said to have thrown stones through the window of the lorry hitting the driver on the head forcing the vehicle to lose control and ultimate stop.

The driver and turn boy were then tied to a nearby bush, tortured with panga cuts until police rescued them on Tuesday morning.

The cargo comprising of electronics, car spare parts and five 100litre tanks of chemicals were being transported by Jihan Freight Logistical Company to Eldoret, according to police.

The lorry which was transporting the assortment was tracked and recovered empty near Rongai trading centre with its tracking cadged tempered with and registration number plates changed.

Nakuru DCIO James Lelia, who led the operation, said tracking device led them to a house in Pipeline where the items had been kept. The owner of the house however fled upon realising the officers were looking for her.

"Geo-Positioning System assisted us so much because the lorry was driven through rural roads to avoid roadblocks," Lelia said.

Nakuru Police Boss Bernard Kioko said police have found a lead that the suspects who participated in what he termed as 'trans highway crimes' are from Mahiu Mahiu.

"We suspect there was collaboration with the driver of the lorry but the suspects are on a dragnet and will be arrested soon," Kioko added.

The driver and the turn-boy, who suffered deep cuts, were treated at the Rift Valley General Provincial Hospital and transferred to Nairobi for further treatment, according to police.