A contingent of security officers from the Directorate of Crininal Investigation (DCI), the regular and administration police in Garissa town yesterday arrested two suspected criminals believed to be behind a spate of criminal activities in the area.
Ali Isack Muhumed, alias ‘Jographia’, 38, and Muhumed Bare Hussein, 30 were nabbed inside a house in Burburis, Galbet ward, in the outskirts of Garissa town, following a tip-off from members of the public.
During the raid, police recovered an AK-47 rifle with six rounds of ammunition and two safes, which police suspect they could have been stolen in one of the banks. Also recovered were a laptop, mobile phones, and manchettes, among other items.
Addressing the press at the scene, Garissa Sub-county Police Commander, Samwel Boit, said that the two were arrested alongside Mama Habiba Yussuf, 70, the owner of the house who was accommodating the suspects.
Boit called members of the public who could have lost their mobile phones, laptops, or any other gadgets to visit the Garissa police station to see if the items recovered could belong to them.
The arrest is a major breakthrough for security apparatus in the fight against the run-away insecurity in Garissa town and its environs.
For the past three months, several cases of mugging, stabbing, and shops breaking in by armed criminals have been reported.
The police towed away a Toyota Alto saloon car registration KCT 528 N, which was suspected to have been used by the notorious gang to carry out their criminal activities.
“Today, we made a big breakthrough in the fight against crime in Garissa town and its environs. We believe the two are part of a criminal gang who have been terrorising members of the public within Bula Madina, Bula Burburis, and its environs,” Boit said.
“We received credible information from members of the public, and we mounted a special operation comprising a team from the Kenya police service, administration police, and the DCI, which led us to the site,” he added.
He disclosed that the two will be processed and taken to court once investigations are complete.
Boit thanked members of the public for volunteering information that helped in the arrest of the three suspects.
While thanking the public, the sub-county police commanders assured them that the information provided would be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
Bura Deputy County Commissioner Thomas Bett, who was present, commended the officers involved in the operation for ‘job well done’.
The security operations will be extended to all the settlements within Garissa town until all criminals are apprehended.
“We shall pursue these criminals until all of them are arrested and charged in a court of law. To this end we will not rest until Garissa town and its environs are secured,” Bett said.
By Jacob Songok
