This archive report was first published on 19 December 2019.
On December 6, 2019, a bus was attacked in Wajir County, resulting in the deaths of 10 people. The incident occurred along Kotulo and Wargadud road in Tarbaj sub-county.
According to the police, the suspects could be members of an extortionist criminal gang drawn from the Somalia-based Marehan clan. The group has been colluding with local residents to forcefully collect money from businesses and individuals, and then escape to Somalia.
“The criminals are led by some locals who want to benefit from the loot. These locals have been leading the group in identifying the targets of the extortion, which include businesses, buses, and livestock owners,” the police statement read in part.
The police revealed that the gang has been terrorizing residents in Wajir County, where they abduct and kidnap workers they meet in sight. An example is the December 18 incident where the police said they targeted road construction workers.
Police have also indicated that they are looking for the family members of the known criminals because they are harboring the suspects and aiding in their heinous crimes.
Meanwhile, the Modika barracks in Garissa, commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta on December 13, 2019, is expected to play a pivotal role in fighting insecurity in the region.
The government has also acquired high-tech equipment to be used in fighting terror and foiling other criminal attacks. A source told The Standard that the equipment have been deployed on a pilot program during the festive season along the North Eastern Region, the Coast and urban areas especially Nairobi, Malindi, and Mombasa.
