Herdsman killed, animals stolen in Tigania raid
Herders guarding their animals. A herdsman was killed and a 9-year-old boy seriously wounded after raiders attacked Matabiti village in Tigania East on July 22, 2014. They escaped with 140 animals. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- A nine-year-old boy also sustained serious gun-shot wounds.
- The boy was admitted to Isiolo Level Four Hospital with a bullet lodged in his body.
- The attackers raided several manyattas at around 7.30pm Monday.
A herdsman was killed and more than 140 animals stolen after raiders suspected to be from Samburu attacked a village in Tigania East, Meru County.
A 9-year-old boy also sustained serious gunshot wounds in the Monday evening attack in Matabiti village in Ngaremara Location.
Confirming the incident, Tigania East police boss Charles Kosgey said the attackers raided several manyattas at around 7:30 pm and escaped with 199 goats, 22 cows and two donkeys.
“We got reports of the group of raiders who attacked the village and responded immediately to try and recover the stolen animals,” Mr Kosgey said on phone.
The police boss said the herdsman was shot and died on the spot after he tried to raise an alarm.
BOY ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL
The 9-year-old boy, who is a Standard Three pupil at a local primary school, was rushed to Isiolo Level Four Hospital in critical condition with a bullet lodged in his body.
Mr Kosgey said a contingent of regular police, General Service Unit (GSU) and Rapid Response Unit (RRU) officers had been dispatched to recover the animals and pursue the raiders.
He assured residents that the killers were being tracked.
“We have launched investigations into the incident and we are optimistic that we will make arrests and recover the animals,” he said.
The police boss urged residents to be on high alert and inform the authorities of any suspicious people who might be planning to commit any crimes.
“I am urging residents to volunteer information than can offer crucial leads to help us fight this crime that has been escalating for quite some time in the area,” he said.
POLICE NOW ALERT
He regretted that many people continued losing their lives and property in cattle raids adding that police were now more alert than ever.
Security was beefed up around the area of the attack to prevent more raids, he said.
Residents said tension remained high in the area as they feared more attacks would occur.
For a long time, efforts by security personnel to curb the attacks by the raiders have been hampered by lack of vehicles.
This is further complicated by the fact that the raiders have sophisticated firearms.
There have been strings of attacks by raiders from Samburu, Somali and Turkana communities that border Tigania East, Igembe North and Igembe Central Constituencies.
