Bandits kill 6 in Garissa attack

By ABDIKADIR SUGOW

Six people were killed and several others injured by bandits at Maleley village in Garissa.

An unknown number of local pastoralists including women and children who were caught up in Friday’s  dawn raid and escaped into the bush were also missing. The village is located between Kulan and Dadaab in Garissa County.

However, Garissa County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed said only three people were killed in the attack.

He said it was bandit-related attack and blamed locals for refusing to give relevant information to security agents, adding some area residents were colluding with bandits.

 “We are not getting support from the locals in terms of information to help us arrest the suspects. Whenever we are close to suspects, they get information and escape,” he said. And speaking on phone while on his way to the scene of incident, former Lagdera MP Mohamed Shidiye told The Standard On Sunday that the bandits were known, challenging the security agents to take immediate action before further attacks.

 “This is heinous crime and our people were killed in a cold blood by bandits who are very well known to the security agents and also to the locals,” claimed Mr Shidiye. He said the attack first happened at a water point when the armed bandits opened fire into the crowed, instantly killing two and injuring several others.

Four others-all men, who were on a rescue mission and to collect the dead bodies were also ambushed and killed, bringing the number to six.

Shidiye blamed the security agent of sleeping on the job and not taking drastic action to safeguard the interest of the people.

The former Kanu deputy chief whip said security personnel had been informed about the existence of the known bandits but no action was taken to apprehend them.