Police shoot dead 2 gangsters suspected of killing trader

A few hours after two suspected criminals killed a bus company official in Mombasa and robbed him of an unknown amount of money, police have gunned them down.

The two suspected gangsters were shot dead at Mikindani stage in Jomvu, Mombasa Tuesday morning.

Police said one of the suspects has been on their watch list.

Police recovered a Ceska pistol loaded with six rounds of ammunitions from one of the suspects.

TRAILED

Detectives have been trailing the suspects and killed them after they boarded a matatu at the Mikindani stage.

One of the suspects, whom police identified as Simon, had boarded the matatu which was heading to Mombasa town.

Police said the second suspect was an accomplice of the wanted criminal who has been terrorising residents in Changamwe and Jomvu constituencies.

But residents who identified him as Jacob Kituku said that he was a tout who is well-known known in the area.

INVOLVED IN MURDER

Speaking at the scene, Mombasa County Police Commander Johnston Ipara said that the two were involved in the murder of the Dream Line Bus official in Magongo in Changamwe Sub-County on Monday at around 11.30pm.

“The fact that the other suspect is known as a tout within the area confirms our doubts. He has been posing as tout but he is involved, together with the other suspect, in killing innocent people within the two sub-counties,” said Mr Ipara.

According to eyewitnesses, police stopped the matatu which had other passengers and shot Simon from the window. The bullets shattered two of the matatu’s windows. It was later driven to Changamwe Police Station.

The killings of the suspects come after a series of robbery incidents reported in the two constituencies with at least four M-Pesa traders being killed by the criminals in the last one month alone.

GUNS RECOVERED

The robbers are usually armed with firearms, some of which were recovered by police in Kilifi last week.

Last week, police in Rabai, Kilifi County, shot dead three criminals after they had in broad daylight robbed two businessmen of Sh660,000.

The officers recovered two AK-47 rifles and 59 rounds of ammunition.

A fourth suspect was arrested and presented at a Mariakani court where police were allowed to hold him for 14 days as they complete their investigations.

Mr Ipara Tuesday said that more suspects linked to the gangs targeting businesspeople are being pursued.

“We will not relent until we reclaim the glory of Mombasa. We cannot have people reap from where they did not sow. They want to survive on other people’s sweat which is something that we will not allow,” said the police boss.