Three police officers arrested over Sh6m Eastleigh lodging robbery

Three police officers were on Saturday morning arrested after they raided a lodging and robbed two businessmen of Sh6 million in a dramatic incident in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area.

One officer is reportedly on the run after the drama that happened following what police believe to be an inside job.

Out of the Sh6 million robbed that was in US dollars, only Sh3.5 million was recovered.

A Cameroon national was also arrested alongside the police officers who were armed with pistols at the time of the robbery. The incident happened at about 1am on Saturday.

The two businessmen told police they had booked a lodging along Second Street when six gunmen broke in and ordered them to surrender the cash they had.

They obeyed the orders and surrendered the 60,000 US dollars they had. The gunmen left immediately.

As they left the lodging, the two raised alarm asking for help. Police who were patrolling in the area responded and intercepted four of the men.

They were shocked to realise the men were fellow officers attached to Kayole Police Division. By then two others had escaped on foot in the confusion but one of them is known to be a police officer attached to the same station.

Three pistols with 38 bullets and a communication gadget were recovered from the officers.

Police said a man believed to have informed the gang of the presence of the cash is also at large and efforts to trace him are ongoing.

The suspects are being detained at the Pangani Police Station ahead of their arrangement on Monday, Nairobi police boss Philip Ndolo said.

This is the latest incident in which police officers are involved in crime instead of fighting crime.

Last Wednesday, three police officers were arrested along Nairobi-Garissa highway while transporting 245 kilos of bhang. They were from Wajir to Nairobi.

At least five police officers are in custody over September incident in which Sh72 million was robbed from a bank in Nairobi West, Nairobi.

Police authorities say all officers involved in crime will be punished just like any other suspect.