Tana River police arrest 5 men after teen girl gang-raped

Shamsa (real name withheld) had joined her friends for Maulid prayers in preparation for Ramadhan at a village in Tana River County that Sunday night.

The 15-year-old had informed her grandmother that she would be with friends from neighbouring homes but had promised to return earlier.

The vigil was one of a kind as she was part of a team that sang hymns. Time flew by and hours later, Shamsa realised she was alone as the group from her village, as well as other neighbouring ones, had left.

In order not to anger her grandmother Fatu (real name withheld), she decided to rush home.

Back home, Fatu was worried as her grandchild was not yet home. She said a strange dream woke her up so she knocked on the door of Shamsa’s bedroom but there was response. She did not find the girl inside when she checked.

“The dream was like an attack. I did not have any peace. I had a feeling that something was not right with my granddaughter," she said in an interview with the Nation.

HORROR

At that time, Shamsa was quickly walking home.

She met three men on motorcycle but they went by without a fuss

A few minutes later, however, the sound of the vehicle’s engine stopped and when she looked back she could not see anyone, so she quickened her steps.

Shamsa had not gone too far when she felt strong hands tightly grab her hands and legs. Another man dragged the motorcycle towards her and amid giggles, she was placed on it, with her mouth tightly covered.

The men told her they were giving her a lift but the ride did not end at her grandmother’s house. In a bush along the way, man after man raped her as others held her down by her hands and legs.

Amid the horror, Shamsa heard one of her attackers speaking on phone, asking others to join them.

In no time, the number of men attacking her grew from three to seven.

ARRESTS

Shamsa was left at the scene, injured and unable to walk, but a good Samaritan who heard noises and checked, helped her by taking her to her grandmother's house.

She and her grandmother reported the crime to police and she was able to identify two of the attackers, including the one who rode the motorcycle.

The police officers from Hola Police Station swung into action, with Corporal Mildred Agisa taking the girl to Hola General Hospital for tests and treatment.

On Monday, the officers arrested two suspects, one of them described as a notorious criminal in the village.

Upon interrogation, they disclosed the location of their accomplices’ hideout, helping people to arrest three more suspects whom Shamsa later identified positively.

VILLAGERS FEARUFL

At the village, residents told the Nation that they were afraid as a gang had been attacking and raping girls and women.

They said efforts to have them apprehended had always been futile as they intimidated their victims and threatened families into silence.

"We fear they are not the only ones. The other two [attackers] must be found for us to be safe, the girl and her family in particular. These are dangerous people," said an elder.

Since Shamsa’s night of horror, villagers have been in a sombre mood, most returning home early and remaining behind closed doors.

The security team has suspended night parties and ordered the operators of drinking joints to close them by 7pm.

INVESTIGATION

The suspects in Shamsa's attack were identified as Said Omar, Galgalo Athmani, Athumani Mohamed, Yasir Mohamed and Dero Juma, all adults aged between 35 and 40. They were booked at Hola Police station.

Police asked for more time to investigate the incident and find the remaining two suspects.

Principal Magistrate Alloys Ndege gave them four days to conclude the probe and asked them to take the suspects to court on July 3.