Editor's Review

The gang was in the possession of Machettes and Marijuana by the time of their arrest

Mombasa county residents can now breathe a sigh of relief after detectives from the county pounced on five members of the notorious gang that had been terrorizing residents.

Announcing the news on Sunday, April 24, through a statement on its social media, the Kenya National Police Service NPS, said police officers on patrol in Kisauni sub-county had managed to arrest 5 youths belonging to the notorious criminal gang dubbed 'Panga boys' which had been terrorizing residents of Kisauni.

The officers went ahead to reveal the names of the five, saying they were placed in police cells pending their arraignment and prosecution in court.

"End of a short-lived era. Police officers on patrol in Mjambere ward in Kisauni Sub-County have this morning arrested 5 youths belonging to an organized criminal group dubbed 'Panga Boys.' The five Abdul Shakur Charo, Lukman Said Salim, Omar Rajab Omar, Masuud Mohammed Bwana and Nahim Akinyi Ongut," read a Twitter post from the National Police Service.

{The five were armed with Machettes and had been terrorizing Kisauni residents. Photo: Courtesy}

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According to NPS, the group derived its name from their preferred weapon of choice (Machettes). They were reportedly armed with Pangas at their time of arrest and were on a mission to commit serious crimes within Soko Mjinga Area.

The officers revealed that the gang was in the possession of Marijuana by the time of their arrests. Police urged members of the public who might have fallen victim to the gang to report to Mjambere police station and aid in further investigations.

"They were disarmed and five Pangas recovered from them. The gang members, who were also in possession of Marijuana, were placed in police cells pending arraignment. We call upon any member of the public who may have fallen victim to atrocities by this gang to report to Mjambere police station for further police action" added NPS

This comes in the wake of similar arrests in Mombasa's Old Town area two days ago. According to the DCI, a number of gang members who were recently captured on a viral CCTV video robbing members of the public at Mombasa's Old Town had been arrested.

The DCI detectives said the young men have been operating in a group of about 15 thugs and had terrorized residents for a long time.

"The young men operating in a group of about 15 thugs were captured on CCTV in two separate incidents, terrorizing two men who were going about their businesses on April, 19, 2020. Following the incident, a contingent of officers drawn from Mombasa’s Central Police Station, backed up by DCI’s Anti Terror Police Unit (ATPU) detectives mounted an operation" said the DCI