Puzzle of guns in fresh Lamu attack

Deputy President William Ruto listens to Mama Odipo whose house was torched by attackers in Hindi, Lamu County. An armed gang of about 60 men raided Pandanguo village in Lamu County and set ablaze a school. PHOTO/REBECCA NDUKU/DPPS

What you need to know:

  • The assailants torched Pandanguo Primary School and four other houses near the institution.
  • The source said that the attackers found several men praying in a mosque and locked them inside.
  • Lamu County Commissioner Miiri Njenga confirmed the attack but denied that guns were stolen.
  • At least 69 suspects linked to the killings at Hindi and Gamba police station in Tana River have been arrested.

An armed gang of about 60 men raided Pandanguo village in Lamu County and set ablaze a school.

The assailants torched Pandanguo Primary School and four other houses near the institution.

An local administrator, who spoke to the Nation on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to comment on the matter, said the group invaded the village at around 1.30 am on Thursday.

The source said that the attackers found several men praying in a mosque and locked them inside.

The administrator claimed that the invaders snatched six riffles from Kenya Police Reservists (KPR) who were guarding the village.

Thereafter, the source said, they went from house to house harassing women and children.

They stole phones and other valuables.

STOLE MEDICINE

“The attackers broke into a local dispensary and stole medicine before disappearing into the forest,” the administrator said.

Lamu County Commissioner Miiri Njenga confirmed the attack but denied that guns were stolen.

“My officers are already on the ground. The place is now well guarded.

“We will ensure that the attackers are arrested and charged. We will not allow these criminals to endanger the lives of innocent Kenyans. I have not heard of any casualty,” Mr Njenga said.

The incident came just a week after another attack at Kibiboni in Hindi that left dozens of people dead and scores of others injured.

Incidentally, there is an operation by the General Service Unit, Kenya Defence Forces, navy and regular police in Lamu and Tana River counties to catch the criminals.

So far, at least 69 suspects linked to the killings at Hindi and Gamba police station in Tana River have been arrested in an operation led by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Samuel Arachi.

HIGHLY TRAINED GOONS

Mr Njenga described the Thursday night gang as “highly trained goons” with military background, based on the manner in which they executed the raid.

Mr Njenga said preliminary investigations and information from witnesses indicate that the attackers were hired thugs and not Al-Shabaab militants from Somalia.

“From the evidence we have collected, there is a strong pointer to hired criminals,” the commissioner said.

He added that the attack was a scheme by some people to try and forcibly evict others unlawfully.

“We will not sit back and let that happen. Security officers will spare no one, regardless of your standing in society. We will deal with you. The hunter is now the hunted,” Mr Njenga said.

He was speaking during a tourism and security stakeholders meeting in Lamu.