Baragoi killers using women and children as human shields

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Families await transport to flee Baragoi area of Samburu County on November 18, 2012 for Maralal Town in fear of a said security operation in the area after raiders attacked and killed over 40 policemen a week ago. Photo/SULEIMAN MBATIAH  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By MUCHEMI WACHIRA in Baragoi mwachira@ke.nationmedia.com AND ZADDOCK ANGIRA zangira@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, November 19  2012 at  00:30

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The cattle rustlers who killed more than 40 policemen in Baragoi are using women and children as human shield to avoid arrest, it was revealed on Sunday.

Rift Valley Provincial Police boss John M’Mbijjiwe, who is leading the crackdown, told the Nation that they were having difficulty separating women and children from the suspects hiding in the Suguta Valley.

“They are moving in a single file with the children driving the livestock and the bandits positioning themselves ready to attack. Women are also in the group moving with the animals,” said Mr M’Mbijjiwe at Baragoi Primary School grounds.

He said the security officers were taking caution to avoid civilian deaths and injuries.

“We want to make sure that no innocent life is lost and we also want to ensure that the bandits who killed my officers are captured so that they can face the law,” the police boss said.

However, he said only 35 security agents were killed, although independent sources put the toll at 41.

A police chopper has been conducting aerial surveillance in Suguta Valley in preparation of a swoop by a joint force of the police and the army.

On Sunday, two military choppers arrived in Maralal Town and are expected to provide aerial cover when the operation starts.

The cattle rustlers ambushed a contingent of 107 security officers who had been deployed to recover stolen animals on Saturday last week.

They also stole firearms from the slain officers, who were from the regular and administration police, GSU and the anti-stock theft unit, before fleeing into Suguta Valley.

Meanwhile, hundreds of residents are fleeing Baragoi for Maralal Town, as tension continued to rise in the area. More police officers have also continued to arrive in the township, which is being patrolled day and night.

A senior police officer told the Nation that Turkana South MP Josephat Nanok and his Turkana Central counterpart Ekwee Ethuro will be charged in court this morning with incitement to violence.

Mr Nanok was arrested on Friday and detained at the Kileleshwa Police Station after he allegedly refused to cooperate with detectives. Mr Ethuro was released on a police bond after recording a statement on Saturday.

The detectives are also expected to interrogate Labour minister John Munyes. The minister told a press conference at Parliament Buildings last week that police should have sought their help to convince the rustlers to return the animals instead of planning the military operation.

Mr Nanok, who is also Forestry assistant minister, warned that President Kibaki risked being taken to the International Criminal Court for authorising the deployment of the army.

At the same time, the family of Jillo Woche, 26, said he was still missing after the attack. Mr Woche was attached to the Anti-Stock Theft Unit and comes from Marsabit County.

“We have tried to search for his body all over in the last five days and we have now given up,” said his elder brother, Mr Musa Chude. But the unit’s commandant, Mr Michael Ngugi, said Mr Woche’s body could be among the four recovered on Thursday by police.