Eight police officers, one local chief and two civilians have been killed in Pokot after an ambush by bandits, the National Police Service (NPS) has confirmed.
In a statement on Saturday, September 24, NPS stated that the deceased officers were in pursuit of bandits who had raided a village in Turkana East and made off with livestock.
Terming the ambush as cowardly, the police stated that additional security officers have been dispatched in the region to beef up security.
“The National Police Service regrets to inform on the criminal and cowardly ambush by cattle rustling bandits on innocent members of the public and police officers. The officers were in hot pursuit of Pokot bandits who had raided a village in Turkana East and made away with livestock.
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“A local chief, two (2) members of the public and eight (8) police officers succumbed to the injuries. We have dispatched additional officers to reinforce the troops on the ground in beefing up security in the area and pursue the bandits,” NPS stated.
The police condoled with the families of the deceased officers and members of the public maintaining that necessary measures shall be taken to restore security and safety in the region.
The incident comes even as the police launched disarmament operation in Pokot and neighboring regions in a bid to restore peace in the region that has been experiencing banditry attacks.
Several weapons have since been recovered with a number of suspects in police custody.
