According to Nyeri Central OCPD Muinde Kioko, the officers challenged the suspects to surrender but instead they charged at the police with machetes, prompting police officers to shoot two of them/FILE
NYERI, Kenya, Dec 18 – Two suspected robbers, one of them a former soldier has been shot dead by police in Nyeri following a robbery at Gatitu Shopping Centre.
The two who were among a gang of five were gunned down at around 5am after a guard manning a neighbouring property tipped off police officers patrolling the area who came to the rescue of a fellow guard who had been tied up by the robbers.
According to Nyeri Central OCPD Muinde Kioko, the officers challenged the suspects to surrender but instead they charged at the police with machetes, prompting police officers to shoot two of them.
“I can confirm that two were eliminated and we are still pursuing the others. We will not relent in restoring security in Nyeri,” said Kioko.
Traders who spoke to Capital FM News, expressed their gratitude following the operation saying the gang had stirred up a conflict among the business community who treated each other with suspicion following a series of robbery incidents in the area.
“The fellow who has been gunned down here was a former soldier who was dismissed due to overindulgence in alcohol. Since then, he has been a chronic thief in this area,” said Peter Kariuki, a businessman at the Gatitu Shopping Centre.
The traders lauded the local police for the crackdown urging the government to increase the number of police officers in the area to take criminals harassing locals.
“We’re so happy that we can do business in peace now that these robbers have been killed,” said Margret Wairimu. “We wish to call upon the government to deploy more officers so that they can become more effective.”
According to Kioko, the security forces in the area are still pursuing three suspects who escaped.
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