Police launch manhunt for gang that shot Mombasa chief detective
Mombasa County Deputy Police Commander Sevelino Kubai at Mombasa hospital where DCIO Nduma Thangarani was admitted after being shot by robbers on August 26, 2014. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT
Police in Mombasa County have launched a manhunt for four gunmen who shot and injured Mombasa Urban chief investigating officer on Tuesday night.
DCIO Ndumba Thangarani, who is currently in a stable condition and recuperating at the Mombasa Hospital, was shot in the abdomen by the gunmen he was trailing in Tudor.
According to Mombasa County Deputy Commander of Police Sevelino Kubai, the DCIO and Mombasa OCPD Geoffrey Mayek were trailing the gunmen who were spotted by an informer in King’orani area.
“The two officers working on information from an informer, managed to trace the gangsters but upon alighting from their vehicle, one of the gunmen opened fire at our officers,” said Mr Kubai.
He said the gangsters escaped heading towards Mombasa city center in a saloon vehicle.
Police recovered the getaway car on Wednesday and are questioning the owner.
STABLE AND OUT OF DANGER
The injured senior officer was rushed to the hospital where he is in a stable condition.
Mr Kubai appealed for blood donation for the DCIO who is of blood type (O+). He requires at least 5 pints of blood.
“We had three officers who donated blood Tuesday and we are expecting more to help our brother,” he said.
He however said their fight against criminals will continue until all the gangs are wiped out.
“After Changamwe and Likoni ferry incidents, we are left with criminals from Kibokoni and Majengo who are very hostile.
"They are part of the group that killed the German and the Russian tourists," he said.
He urged Mombasa residents to share information with the police to ensure criminals are brought to book.
“I’d request the members of the public to help us with information that will help us nab these criminals that are targeting even senior officers,” Mr Kubai added.
Meanwhile, Mombasa-based human rights group HAKI Africa condemned the shooting of the Mombasa DCIO.
“As an organization, we demand that the government provide police officers with modern equipment, including bullet proof vests, so as to avoid cases such as this where the DCIO was shot and was seriously injured," HAKI Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid said.
