Ngaremara AP camp closed after youths attack, kill officer

An Administration Police (AP) post which was attacked on Monday and a police officer was shot dead by angry youths in Ngaremara, Isiolo County has been closed.

County Commissioner John Ondego said angry youths attacked innocent police officers at Ngaremara AP camp who were not part of the group of officers involved in an operation in Daaba to recover stolen livestock.

On Monday, two officers were shot dead and six others injured by armed bandits in Daaba.

Among those injured is County Police Commander Manase Musyoka.

An unknown number of residents are feared dead and others injured following the operation.

OFFICER KILLED

“The community had requested for an AP post and officers following cases of insecurity in the area but angry youths later retaliated and killed an innocent officer who used to protect them and wasn’t part of the team conducting the operation,” said the county commissioner.

The AP post had four police officers but the remaining three fled following the attack.

The group that attacked the AP post also made away with the dead officer’s firearm.

“The government will not take that matter lightly. We will take action against the offenders. At the moment we do not have plans to post other officers anytime soon since [it] seems they (residents) don’t need police officers,” said Mr Ondego.

Some locals are accusing police officers of using excessive force and torching houses and have circulated photos online of an elderly woman allegedly killed by police.

Also circulating online is a photo of explosive allegedly used by police and a torched house.

But Mr Ondego denied the claims saying police officers did not burn houses neither did they kill an innocent resident nor use explosives during the operation.