Officer killed as he intervenes in neighbours’ domestic feud

Migori County Referral Hospital where a woman was taken with serious injuries on February 28, 2018 after a fight with her husband in which a police officer who tried to intervene was hacked to death. PHOTO | VIVERE NANDIEMO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  VIVERE NANDIEMO

What you need to know:

  • Chief Philip Kisiagro said the officer lived in a rental house adjacent to the suspect identified as Mr Lucas Odongo.
  • The suspect’s wife sustained serious injuries during the incident and was rushed to Migori County Referral Hospital.
  • Residents were left reeling in shock following the incident.
  • The officer’s body was taken to Migori County Referral Hospital mortuary.

A police officer attached to Thidhna Police Station in Suna East, Migori County, has been hacked to death as he intervened in a couple's domestic fight.

Chief Philip Kisiagro said the officer who lived in a rental house adjacent to the suspect identified as Mr Lucas Odongo, tried to intervene in the neighbours’ fight when he was hacked.

"The officer is said to have heard the screams of the wife of a neighbour when he rushed to save her. He was, however, hacked to death by the irate man who was violently assaulting the wife," said Mr Kisiagro.

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SERIOUS INJURIES

The suspect’s wife sustained serious injuries during the incident and was rushed to Migori County Referral Hospital for treatment.

She was said to be in critical condition.

“The wife of the suspect is currently in hospital nursing serious injuries sustained after being stubbed severally [with] a machete. It is unfortunate that the officer died [while] saving the life of someone else,” said Kisiagro.

He further added that after hacking the officer to death, the suspect took his firearm and started shooting in the air as he fled towards Trans Mara in Narok County.

VIOLENT MAN

Some of the neighbours who spoke to journalists in confidence for fear of retaliation from suspect said that he was a violent man who always assaulted the wife.

"The couple has been quarrelling [very] often. The man could resort to assaulting the wife whenever they quarrelled. Most of us feared to intervene because of the man," a neighbour said.

Residents were left reeling in shock following the incident.

Confirming the incident, Migori County Police Boss Joseph Nthenge condemned the killing, terming it unfortunate and barbaric.

He further said investigations were still ongoing to establish exactly what transpired leading to the officer’s murder.

"We have launched investigations into the death of the officer to ascertain what exactly led to his death. The police have also embarked on a [serious] manhunt for the suspect and he [will] soon be brought to book," said Mr Nthenge.

The officer’s body was taken to Migori County Referral Hospital mortuary.

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