One person killed in raid as bandits make away with 500 cows

One person was killed after suspected bandits raided two villages along the border of West Pokot and Turkana counties.

The bandits stole two guns belonging to National Police Reservists (NPR) and made away with more than 500 cows and 270 goats on Sunday afternoon.

Confirming the incident, Ompolion area Chief Joseph Korkimul said an unknown number of bandits ambushed Ompolion and Takaiwa villages where they conducted raids and drove away with the animals towards Turkana County.

“It was around midday when the bandits ambushed a boy who was grazing the goats. They abducted the boy and drove away with the goats. The police reservists engaged them in a fierce gun battle but they were overpowered,” he said.

He added that tension has since gripped the area after the incident as residents are now living in fear that the cattle rustlers might strike again.

Korkimul also said that the bandits abducted the boy and later killed him at Nakwomoru area where they left his body.

He noted that the 500 cows stolen belonged to seven people who had gone to graze in Kaptir area within Turkana County.

“There is drought and every person is looking for somewhere to graze his animals. The raiders confiscated the animals just to punish them. They took a gun from one of the grazers,” he said.

West Pokot county police commander Mathews Kuto said police officers have been deployed in the area to pursue the stolen animals and asked residents not to retaliate.

He said the stolen animals were driven towards Kakong area in Turkana County and police officers together with NPR are on the ground to ease tension.