Man shot dead in Tana River after father calls police on him

A feud over a camel pitting a father against his son turned tragic after police who were called to intervene shot and killed the young man.

The feud started after the young man protested his father’s decision to sell their only camel to raise money to buy cows.

Police officers from Boka, Tana River County fatally shot the young man on Sunday about 6pm at the Kora National Reserve where they tracked him to after his father sought their assistance.

The county police commander, Mr Patrick Okeri, told the Nation the young man’s father, Mr Abdi Gafo, called the police to arrest his son claiming he had stolen his camel at a local market.

CONFRONTATION

Upon seeing his father in the company of the police officers, Mr Okeri said, the young man started pelting them with stones injuring some of them. 

Mr Okeri said the young man attracted the sympathy of several youths who also started pelting the officers with stones.

But police boss said his officers used lethal force when the suspect pulled out a knife and attempted to stab one of the injured officers.

"Our officer was on the ground, hit on the eye and the head. His colleagues were firing in the air so that they could rescue him from the angry youth who did not seem scared. But when they saw the young man charge towards the police with a dagger, they shot him," Mr Okeri said.

Three of the police officers were taken for treatment at the Boka dispensary but the one with serious injuries was taken to the Garissa County Referral Hospital.

'EXCESSIVE FORCE'

However, Mr Gafo now claims police officers used excessive force in dealing with his son, saying they shot him several times in the body and once in the head.

The local ward representative, Mr Salah Adamo said the family has recorded a statement at the Madogo Police Station with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority set to start an investigation on the incident on Monday.