Isiolo: Police in Isiolo County have arrested a murder suspect and recovered an M16 rifle in a sting operation targeting outlaws wielding illegal firearms and drug barons.
According to Kenya News Agency, Isiolo County Police Commander Isaac Sang stated that the rifle, which had been on the police radar for a long time, was recovered alongside five rounds of ammunition, a magazine, and two daggers allegedly used by criminals to intimidate victims during robberies.
County Criminal Investigations Officer Dennis Wekesa linked the firearm to suspect Allois Lochuchu, who is wanted in connection with a series of killings in the county since December last year. Wekesa indicated that the suspect was being investigated over the killing of four people, including Mutethia Kuresh, who was killed on the eve of Christmas Day last year; Patrick Nyaga, killed in January; teacher Maingi Gatobu, killed in February; and businesswoman Angelina Kananu, who was killed last month.
He urged members of the public with information
on illegal firearms to share it with security agencies to help prevent further loss of life and curb crime. Mr. Sang warned politicians against making inflammatory statements, suggesting that such utterances could undermine peace and security in the county.
The commander expressed concern over reports that some individuals were purchasing weapons and distributing them to criminal groups, warning that police would pursue those doing so. The security operation, intensified over the past week, has also targeted drug trafficking and the production and sale of illicit alcohol, leading to the arrest of several suspects.
Police recovered 5kgs of bhang, approximately 1000 litres of chang’aa, and equipment allegedly used to manufacture illicit brews. Ethanol suspected to have been destined for the production of illegal alcohol was also seized. Packets of cigarettes suspected to be illicit were also recovered as the crackdown on illegal drugs and other prohibited substances continued.
Sang called on parents to take
greater responsibility for their children and help prevent them from engaging in drug abuse and criminal activities. He stated that security agencies would sustain the operations and appealed to residents to provide information that could assist in recovering illegal weapons, combating drug abuse, and disrupting criminal networks in the county.
