Two fishermen killed by suspected pirates in Lake Victoria

Two fishermen have been killed while one survived after they were attacked by suspected pirates from Tanzania while on a fishing expedition in waters of Lake Victoria at Ringiti Island in Suba North Sub-County.
The fishermen identified as Naftali Okoth aged 29 and George Ochieng aged 26 were accompanied by their colleague known as Kevin Onyuka who survived. They are reported to have been attacked and killed by the pirates who were armed with crude weapons.
Speaking to KNA Ringiti Beach Management Unit (BMU) Chairman Bernard Odhiambo said that the fishermen were attacked near Rukuba beach in the border of Kenya and Tanzania by the pirates after they left the Island on Thursday on a fishing expedition.
Odhiambo added that the fishermen were overpowered by the attackers who invaded their boat demanding for their fishing gears and boat engine. He said in the process Naftali was stabbed forcing him to jump into the water where he drowned while his colleague George Ochieng was beaten to death and his body dropped in the water by the attackers.
The chairman further said that Kevin who survived during the incident jumped from the boat after he was beaten with a crude weapon where he managed to cling on the boat to hide from the attackers.
He said that during the attack the suspects deprived the fishermen of their boat engine worth Sh25,000, 80 litres of fuel, fishing gears of unknown value and fish worth thousands of shillings before speeding off to an unknown destination.
Confirming the incident, Homa Bay County Deputy Police Commander, Samuel Obara said the bodies of the two fishermen have not been retrieved and search operations are ongoing.
Obara added that a team of investigators have launched a manhunt to carry out investigations to establish who the attackers were to ensure they are arrested and brought to book.
By Natasha Kanisa/ Davis Langat