By Lucas Ngasike
Turkana, Kenya: Six fishermen are feared dead following a fresh attack by suspected Merille militia in Todonyang, along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
Turkana DC Erick Wanyonyi said they had received information of the killing of the six fishermen in Lake Turkana.
The DC said the militia from Ethiopia also seized five boats belonging to the Kenyan fishermen who were fishing in the lake, escalating tension in the area.
This is the second incident in a week after the militia abducted four fishermen and seized their boat at Kanamkuny beach in Todonyang border point. The four are still missing.
The attacks come even after local NGOs among them Elemi Conflicts Resolution Development Project (ECOREDEP) and Conflicts Early Warning Mechanism (CEWARN) that spearhead peace in the region had raised alarm over impending attacks by the militia and asked the Government to act.
Wanyonyi said the militia seized the boats and the fishing gears in Todonyang beach when they ambushed the six fishermen in the middle of the Lake.
Police deployed
He said unconfirmed reports indicated that the militia opened fire at the fishermen before seizing the boats.
“We have since mobilised a serious operation in the area in response to these attacks”, Wanyonyi told The Standard.
The DC said a contingent of security personnel including General Service Unit (GSU), Regular police and the rapid deployment Unit (RDU) have been deployed to Lake Turkana to respond to the attacks.
“We have deployed security personnel on the ground to pursue the attackers and recover the stolen boats," the DC said.
The DC said he had contacted his Ethiopian counterparts in South Omo, Maloka Dettachew, who instead said the Turkana fishermen had attacked Ethiopian fishermen.
“He seemed to be contradicting information on the incident. He told me that Turkana fishermenwent to attack the Merille militia when their boats were seized," the DC said.
According to Maloka, one Merille militia man was killed and another Ethiopian policeman was critically injured during the confrontation between thefishermen.
The DC however said they had sent a protest note to Ethiopian authorities asking them to recover the stolen boats and the fishing gears.
Turkana North MP Christopher Nakuleu condemned the latest incident pointing accusing fingers at government laxity to contain rampant attacks at the Todonyang border point.
The legislator also accused the Ethiopian authorities of abetting killings of Kenyan fishermen in Lake Turkana by allegedly arming militia to take control of Lake Turkana resources.
“These killings have become too much. Something must be done and I call upon our President to intervene," Nakuleu said.
Turkana Senator John Munyes also petitioned the Government to engage the Ethiopian government in high level talks aimed at ending the bloodletting.
Speaking at a press conference in Eldoret, Munyes regretted the latest incident and demanded urgent action by the Government.
"We cannot continue losing people like this and nothing is being done about it. Turkana people feel the Government has left them at the mercy of this rogue militia," he said.
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