Two boys abducted after raiders attack village, steal over 300 goats

By Wilberforce Netya

West Pokot, Kenya: A nine-year-old boy was shot and seriously injured when suspected Turkana assailants attacked Kamurio village in West Pokot County and made away with over 300 goats.

The attackers who stormed the village at about 4pm on Wednesday also took hostage three young boys during the raid that was fiercely resisted by armed Pokot youths.

The incident ocurred as the ongoing conflict between the two communities continues to escalate despite deployment of security personnel.

Songok location Chief Joseph Korkimur told The Standard one of the boys who had been held captive escaped when armed Pokot youths engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle while the other two yet to be found.

“The attackers whom we suspect to be from the Turkana community stormed the village and held the boys captive as they tried to escape with the animals before they were engaged in a gun battle by local youths,” said Korkimur.

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He said the boys were herding their parents' livestock when they were attacked by the militia who shot the nine year old from the back before fleeing with animals and taking the boys hostage.

Korkimur said police officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) and officials from KenGen came to the rescue of the injured boy and organised for his transportation to the Moi Teaching and Referral hospital in Eldoret for treatment.

Korkimur added that the attackers stole the goats from a villager who lost 50 cows last week when another militia gang raided his home in the same village.

The chief added that one of the attackers in Wednesday's incident was killed by a group of Pokot youths who fought to repulse the attackers.

West Pokot deputy governor Titus Lotee condemned the latest incident and asked security forces to pursue the attackers and rescue the abducted boys.