Police kill four suspected robbers in Nairobi, recover guns and ammunition

Nairobi County Police Commander Japheth Koome. He said said police shot and killed four suspected robbers and recovered an AK-47 rifle, a pistol and 60 rounds of ammunition on near Nyayo Stadium on Sunday morning, May 22, 2016. PHOTO | WILLIAM OERI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The robbers had kidnapped a woman and demanded a ransom of Sh100,000.
  • Officers from Special Crimes Prevention Unit had trailed the suspects as they were demanding ransom from the victim's family.
  • Police said the gang had also been linked to at least six past kidnapping incidents within Nairobi and its environs.
  • The gang has been posing as police officers especially within Nairobi.

Police in Nairobi have Sunday morning shot and killed four suspected robbers and recovered an AK-47 rifle, a pistol and 60 rounds of ammunition on.

Nairobi County Police Commander Japheth Koome said the four were shot near Nyayo Stadium after a chase from the city centre where they had kidnapped a woman and demanded a ransom of Sh100,000.

Mr Koome said officers from Special Crimes Prevention Unit (SCPU) had trailed the suspects as they were demanding ransom from the victim's family.

They had already been paid part of the money they were demanding and freed the victim.

Police said the gang had also been linked to at least six past kidnapping incidents within Nairobi and its environs.

Mr Koome said some of the victims who reported the incidents gave a description that matched the suspects.

Some of the victims were attacked outside banks or along the streets.

The gang has been posing as police officers especially within Nairobi.

Following a report that a woman had been kidnapped, a team of officers were mobilised after some of the gang members went and withdrew cash from the victim’s account as part of their payment.