POKOT, KENYA: Tension is high at Lokis area in East Pokot, Baringo County after suspected Turkana raiders attacked the area abducting a 12-year old boy and escaping with over 400 goats.

The raid is the second incident in the area despite presence of Kenya Defence Forces and other security agencies who are undertaking disarmament operation. It follows the killing of over 20 Administration Police(AP) officers in Kapedo three weeks ago.

According to the locals, three boys aged between 10 and 12 were looking after their goats when the over 50 suspected raiders attacked abducting them before driving away the goats. Two boys later escaped.

Area chief Benjamin Komolkol told Standard Digital` that there are fears over the fate of the young herder.

The chief said the raiders must have taken advantage of the on-going operations to steal from the Pokot community and called on the security to man the borders of the two counties.

"They struck on Friday evening making away with 425 goats belonging to Todongura Lotudoki, Kamwaireng Lonyangalima and Longuranyang Lotudoki and the suspects come from Turkana East," said Chief Lokolmol.

Area Sub-County commissioner Daniel Kurui confirmed the incident saying that the security personnel were on the group pursuing the stolen animals and the missing boy.

"I received the information on the stolen goats and the missing boy and we have dispatched the security to the area and are currently in pursuit of the animals,"said Kurui.

Leaders from the area led by Tirioko MCA Stephen Maklap condemned the incident and accused the 'heavy' security carrying out the operation of concentrating in one area leaving the locals exposed to attacks.

The MCA has however called on the government to recall the KDF in the area as they were doing little to bring peace between the pastoral communities in the region.

The residents of East Pokot have expressed their discomfort over the presence of the security personnel in the area accusing them of harassment at the expense of hunting down the culprits.

Recently, raiders believed to be from the neighboring Turkana South district attacked Ngaungauyan village killing a herder before fleeing with 346 goats. The incident put into question the effectiveness of KDF's operation.