Five thugs shot dead in Ruaraka

By Cyrus Ombati

Five suspected thugs were on Thursday night shot dead by police in an operation in Ruaraka area, Nairobi, and a pistol recovered from them.

Police said they also recovered one bullet, 12 spent cartridges, and two kitchen knives from the scene where the bodies of the slain men lay.

Police from Flying Squad and officers from Ruaraka Police Station who had information they had a pistol and planned to commit a robbery on a supermarket in the area trailed the suspects.

Tipped off

Starehe OCPD Samuel Anampiu said the gang planned to rob Mini Price Supermarket when police were ≈

Nairobi Area Head of Police Benson Kibue said they were killed after they defied orders to surrender, prompting the shooting.

“We believe the men have been behind a series of robberies in the area and Nairobi. We will test the recovered weapon to establish where it has been used,” said Mr Kibue.

Witnesses say police pursued the suspects in a chase and killed them as they escaped on foot.

The killings bring to 11 the number of suspects killed by police in three days.

Elsewhere in Garissa Town, a Form Two student was shot dead by gunmen.

Shoot bystanders

The student at County High School was approaching a kiosk in Iftny Market on Thursday night when gunmen, who had been on a shooting rampage, hit him.

Three other people, including a woman, was wounded in the 9pm incident.  They are admitted at a local hospital.

Police are yet to know the motive of the attack because the attackers struck and escaped on foot.

Witnesses said the gang had targeted a kiosk dealer and shot him in the chest first before they started to shoot other bystanders.

“Miraculously, the kiosk dealer survived,” said North Eastern police boss Charlton Mureithi.

He said police have intensified patrols in the area in efforts to curb such attacks that have become rampant.