Police arrest 17 suspects in probe of five guards' killing

Adulrazack Jaldesa said that they have managed to arrest 17 suspected demurrers that were involved in killing 5 guards in Kilingili market on Sunday night. [Duncan Ocholla/Standard]

Police have arrested 17 people linked to the murder of five watchmen last Saturday at Kilingili market at the border of Vihiga and Kakamega counties.

Addressing the media in his office yesterday, Kakamega County Commissioner Abdiruzak Jaldesa (pictured) said the incident drew the attention of security personnel from the two counties. Both teams have vowed to beef up the security.

“We tracked the suspects using gadgets and arrested 17 of them in Vihiga County. They are being interrogated at Mbale Police Station.

"The information we get from them will help police arrest those still at large and understand the motive of the killing, since nothing was stolen," Jaldesa said.

New officers

"A new team of officers has been deployed and it will work under instructions as they coordinate with locals. Patrol has been enhanced and we will hold a baraza with the residents to have new market committee in place for easy sharing of information,” he said.

He said police were still pursuing other suspects and asked Vihiga and Kakamega County governments to help the families manage burial expenses.

Western region Police Commander Rashid Yakub said they were investigating officers alleged to have taken bribes from chang’aa brewers and harassed boda boda operators instead of concentrating on security matters.

“We have transferred all the officers at Kilingili Police Station. The OCS and other officers accused by residents of laxity are being investigated and if found guilty, they will be dealt with according to law," Yakub said.

Residents blamed police's laxity for rising insecurity locally.

It has also emerged that the five elderly night guards who were killed may have been targeted by a group of younger guards.

Linus Anyiga (74), Thomas Minao (70), Francis Osayo (48), John Ondachi (63) and Charles Kalume (60), were hacked to death by unknown gangsters.

Family members of Thomas Minao, one of the guards killed, said he had told them that a guard was threatening to kill him three weeks before the incident.

“Our father told us there was a night guard in the market who was threatening him at his work station three weeks before he finally met his death,” Stephen Mboya, 48, said.

Mr Mboya added: “Before he died, he told us that in case anything happened to him, we should not look further than where the young man, who has been threatening him, is."

The family members spoke to The Standard at their Lanaswa village in South Idakho, Kakamega County.

Report matter

Mboya said they advised their father to report the matter to the police and his boss.

In one of the shops that was broken into, only a few packets of cigarette were stolen while other shop owners have not reported any loss.

According to a survivor, Boaz Opanga, who was attacked at Ilungu market, it was a group of more than 30 youths.

“It was around 1am on Sunday when we saw the attackers. When I tried hitting one of them, they descended on me injuring me badly,” said Mr Opanga, 66, who is receiving treatment at Vihiga County Referral Hospital in Mbale.