Ethiopian militia kill two officers

By Lucas Ng"asike

Two paramilitary officers were gunned down and five others seriously injured by Ethiopian Merille militia along the Kenya/Ethiopia border.

The officers, one a corporal and the other a constable, were shot dead when the militia ambushed their camp in the volatile Todonyang area in Turkana North District.

The officers belonged to the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) sent to the area following last year’s killing of over 40 Turkana pastoralists by the same militia.

According to area DC Albert Mwilitsia, about 300 heavily armed militia ambushed the officers as they were having lunch on Monday.

"They surrounded the camp and opened fire shooting indiscriminately. They killed the two officers on the spot and injured five others," he said.

The DC also confirmed that one officer was missing from the camp and could either have been killed and his body taken by the militia or was abducted.

Mwilitsia said officers at the camp fought back the militia and secured the bodies of the slain officers.

high alert

"The five officers who were injured were rushed to the Loarengak mission dispensary," said the DC.

The administrator said the attack came days after the militia had constantly provoked the officers.

"They have severally tried to overrun the camp but our officers have always been on high alert. It is just unfortunate that they were caught unawares this time," he added.

Mwilitsia said the militia aggression has been going on despite an agreement between the two governments that they leave Kenyan territory.

"They have continued to trespass into Kenyan territory and grazing their livestock here," he said.

Tension remained high in the area on Monday even as a high-powered security team flew to the area.

The team led by senior Rift Valley security officers flew in choppers to collect the bodies of the slain officers and airlift those injured for specialised treatment.

On May 2, last year, the Merille militia killed 40 Turkana pastoralists who had been invited by their Ethiopian counterparts to buy food following drought on the Kenyan side.

Related Topics

Ethiopian merille