Relief as officers pin down bandits, recover 7 guns in Suguta

By MICHAEL SAITOTi

Baragoi, Kenya: Security officers have recovered seven guns from bandits who killed 42 police officers at Suguta Valley, Baragoi in November 2012.

The guns were recovered after heavily armed bandits ambushed Kambi Nyoka in Baragoi but were repulsed by a joint operation team.

Officers from the Kenya Defence Forces, General Service Unit, Administration Police, Anti-Stock Theft Unit and regular police were involved in the operation.

The bandits stormed the operation camp and engaged the officers for two hours. The officers overpowered the bandits and recovered three G3 rifles with 207 bullets, one FN rifle and three AK47 rifles with 56 rounds of ammunition. They also arrested three bandits while others ran away leaving behind guns.

Those arrested have been transferred to Maralal Police Station and will be arraigned in court on Monday.

Samburu county commissioner Wilfred Nyagwanga confirmed the recovery of the guns and said the bandits had come from Lomirok and Marti villages.

Nyagwanga warned chiefs from the two villages where the bandits came from to ensure any remaining gun taken from officers slain in the 2012 attack are surrendered.

Samburu County AP commandant Benson Wasike said officers would continue to patrol the area and to hunt down the bandits.