Suspected thug killed, four escape in Oyugis town's botched robbery

Police in Oyugis town, Homa Bay County on Sunday morning shot dead a suspected thug as four others escaped during a botched robbery in the town.

The unidentified suspect was killed while on the roof of the building housing a bar after he refused to surrender as other accomplishes escaped on foot. 

The downed thug is reported to have climbed the roof of the building to create an opening through which they could gain entry into the bar as the other four provided ground security before patrol officers pounced on them.

On seeing officers, the four fled leaving one of them on the rooftop.

Drama ensued when the suspect on the roof refused to heed officers’ calls to climb down and threatened to assault anybody who climbed the roof with a machete.

Efforts by the officers to convince him to surrender failed as he threatened to attack them with a machete, prompting them to shoot him.

Rachuonyo South Sub-county Police Commander Lilies Wachira says that the deceased had intentions of attacking the police officers.

“He was found removing an iron sheet from the bar roof with intention of stealing. Instead of turning himself to the officers who at the scene, he threatened to hack any officer who could move closer to him,” Wachira said.

His body was moved to Rachuonyo South sub-county hospital mortuary.

Locals hailed the police for thwarting the robbery, saying cases of burglary have been on the rise in the town.

“Oyugis town has been insecure of late with night raids of business on the rise. Let police should pursue and arrest the suspects who escaped,” said a resident.