Three suspects arrested in Meru, M16 rifle seized

Detectives have arrested three suspects believed to be behind a string of violent robberies in Imenti North and Buuri West subcounties.

The officers recovered an M16 rifle during the crack operation mounted by officers drawn from the DCI Headquarters Criminal Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), Operation Support Unit (OSU) and Operation Action Team (OAT).

Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Mohamed Amin said in a statement on Wednesday the officers were aided in the operation by their counterparts from Imenti Central and Buuri West subcounties.

“Detectives tracked down the suspects out of their hideouts and through meticulous interrogation, the suspects eventually led the officers to Kianjuri village where they had buried the firearm in a concealed location,” Amin said.

He said true to the claim, officers retrieved an M16 model (SAR) rifle along with two magazines and 67 rounds of 5.5mm ammunition, a black jacket, two gunny bags and a brown marvin.

“Ballistic reports have conclusively linked the recovered firearm to earlier submitted cartridges. Investigations revealed that a police officer based at Marsabit county has been working in cahoots with the thugs by facilitating their evil missions. He was swiftly arrested before holing up,” the top sleuth said.

According to the DCI boss, the three robbery suspects reigned terror on residents of Imenti North and Buuri West subcounties for a considerable time now.

He said among the series of their criminal activities is the theft of two prized cows - Friesian and Ayrshire - from a homestead in Magati village on September 5 where they scared away villagers by firing bullets in the air.

Amin said their second documented criminal escapade came on September 15 where the suspects allegedly raided a home in Rugusu and stole a dairy cow, loaded it onto a getaway pickup and drove away.

During the raid, Amin said, the suspects shot the lady owner of the cow for raising the alarm.

“Tragically, she was pronounced dead on arrival at Kiirua Mission Hospital,” Amin said.

He said in their most recent criminal act, the suspects attempted to torch a four-bedroom house, but the house did not catch fire.

They indiscriminately shot at the door of the house in fury after the failed arson attack and injured the man of the house three times in the belly and his wife in the abdomen.

“The victims are admitted at Kiirua mission hospital in serious condition,” Amin said.