Chiefs arrested after failed police post attack

By Abdisalan Ahmed and Cyrus Ombati

GARISSA; KENYA: A chief and his assistant were on Saturday evening arrested in Garissa after a botched attack on an Administration Police (AP) post in Bulla Argi.

The two were arrested after a suspected gunman passed through the AP compound attracting the attention of the officers on guard who opened fire.

The lone gunman escaped under a hail of bullets.

Garissa County Commissioner Mohamud Maalim confirmed the botched attack on the security officers and urged the local community to volunteer information that will lead to the arrest of the gunman.

"We all have to be on the watch for any suspicious movement of people and security officers can win the war against criminals with the support of the people", Maalim said.

A Garissa businessman who tried to secure the release of the two chiefs was also briefly detained by police but later set free and asked to report to the Garissa police station on Monday.

Mr  Hassan Barre who is a brother to Dujis MP Aden Dualle told the Standard he had gone to the station to know the fate of the two chiefs but was himself put to task.

"The police are acting with abandon and don't want reason to prevail", Barre told the Standard.