Officers smash kidnap racket, rescue victim

By Boniface Gikandi

Detectives in Murang’a County arrested three suspects believed to be members of a gang behind a series of abductions.

The officers also rescued a timber merchant who had been in captivity for 10 days. Three other victims had been released after their families paid ransom.

Police tracked down the suspects to their hideout after monitoring their phone calls to the victims’ relatives. According to police, the trader was chained inside a solitary room in Samar village in Murang’a.

The three arrested suspects, among them a woman, were waiting for Sh10 million ransom. Sources in the police said between Sh1.5 million and Sh2.5 million had been paid as ransom to the criminals before the detectives made the arrests.

Series of abductions

Yesterday, Murang’a County Commissioner Ms Kula Hache confirmed the rescue, terming it a major breakthrough in routing a series of abductions in the area that have baffled locals.

Hache said security officers received a tip off from the public before strategising on way to rescue the trader. The administrator thanked the public for co-operating with police officers.

“Three people among them a woman are in police custody helping with investigations on the abductions,” said the county administrator.

The arrests came a week after Hache warned criminal gangs in the area that their days were numbered. Murang’a South OCPD Antony Onyango, who led the operation, said the three suspects were being grilled by police.

Hefty ransoms

“They are in custody and we are looking for their accomplices. We will dismantle this network,” said Onyango.

The region has experienced an upsurge in abductions, with kidnappers demanding hefty ransoms.

Mary Wanjiru Kuria, 64, was the first victim to be abducted and the family had to part with Sh130,000 to secure her release.

Others who have fallen victim to the criminals, include Edward Macharia Maina, Jane Njoki Irungu. They were released after being in captive for days.

The country has in the recent past witnessed a surge in kidnaps mostly targeting children.