Criminals escape with six guns after attacking Pandanguo in Lamu

LAMU, KENYA: Gunmen raided Pandanguo village in Lamu County torching houses, school and robbing Kenya Police Reservists of six guns.

The attackers estimated to be about 60 also vandalized a dispensary in the area and stole medicine. Local police say no arrest has been made so far.

Pandanguo is near Witu that was last month attacked.

More than 80 people have been killed in Lamu area and hundreds displaced in attacks in the past month alone. There are tens of IDPs in prisons and police camps. During the earlier incident in Mpeketoni, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy was arrested and charged with murder, forcible eviction and terrorism before his eventual release on a Sh5 million bail.

The latest suspect was a Lamu businessman, who on Wednesday was charged with the mass murder of 65 people in Mpeketoni between June 15 and 17. Mahadi Swaleh Mahadi alias Jesus was arrested in Lamu town on Tuesday and taken to Mombasa overnight where the State opened murder charges against him.

The State applied to consolidate Mahadi’s charges with those of Dyana Salim Suleiman, a matatu driver in Lamu. The charges, mentioned before Justice Martin Muya, were consolidated, with State lawyer Alex Muteti applying to have them detained at Port Police Station in Mombasa. The judge said Justice Edward Muriithi would decide on bond application.