Two police officers were involved in a shooting incident within the jurisdiction of the Barambate police post in Isiolo county’s Garbatulla subcounty on Friday.
The police officers
were conducting a routine foot patrol approximately three kilometers west of
the Barambate police station when they were attacked by a group of armed
assailants.
Police said the
attackers ambushed the officers from behind, shooting one of them in the right
thigh.
The gunshot
wound immobilised the officer as the attackers quickly fled the scene on motorcycles.
Senior
officers from the National Police Service, including Pius Mbithi, the Senior
Superintendent of Police (SSP) and Subcounty Police Commander of Garbatulla,
immediately mobilised a team to investigate the incident.
They arrived
at Barambate Health Center and confirmed that the injured officer was being
treated and was in stable condition.
The injured
officer was later transferred to Guardian Hospital in Meru county for further
treatment.
Through an
initial assessment, police established that the two officers had been on foot
patrol in a remote area, far from the station, when the ambush occurred.
Police said the
assailants were four, all armed with AK47 rifles, and were believed to be
riding two motorcycles.
One of the
motorcycles was reported to be carrying a white luggage, which was suspected to
contain bhang.
As of the
last update, the injured officer was reported to be in stable condition and was
expected to be discharged soonest possible.
The
Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Garbatulla has taken over the
case, and further inquiries are ongoing.
The suspects
are still at large but police are actively pursuing leads to apprehend
them.
“It is
believed that the attack was likely related to criminal activities in the area,
particularly the illegal trade of drugs, given the suspicion of bhang being
transported by the assailants,” police said.
The National
Police Service promised to continue supporting the injured officer and to
ensure punishment is meted to those responsible for the attack.
Police said investigations
are ongoing and updates will be provided as more information becomes
available.