Police search for two men grabbed by armed assailants
Lamu County Police Commander Moses Muriithi who on January 5, 2022 said that a search was still underway for two men abducted by heavily armed men suspected to be behind the killings of seven people this week.
Police in Lamu County are searching for two men abducted by heavily armed men suspected to be behind the killings of seven people this week.
Three men, all wine tappers, were reported taken by the attackers in Kibokoni, Hindi division, Lamu West, at around 5pm on Tuesday but one escaped and reported the matter to the police.
Lamu County Police Commander Moses Muriithi told Nation.Africa on Wednesday that the search was still underway with the help of the man who escaped from the kidnappers.
The men were in a forest in Kibokoni to tap traditional liquor, known as 'mkoma', when they were attacked.
"We received reports from the wine tapper that they had gone to the forest to tap mkoma only for them to be abducted by unknown people,” Mr Muriithi said.
“One of them escaped and he is assisting us in tracing the other two, whose whereabouts are still unknown. Search is on."
Residents in fear
The abduction has struck fear among Kibokoni residents and surrounding areas.
On Tuesday evening, residents in Hindi remained indoors from as early as 6pm for fear of being abducted and killed by the assailants.
A local administrator in Hindi town told Nation.Africa that tension was rising in the area, especially after the killings in Lamu this week.
On Sunday night, six people were killed in Widho village, Mkunumbi ward, and another on Monday night in Bobo-Sunkia village, Hindi ward, both in Lamu West sub-county.
"Residents are worried about the security situation. Many here have been locking themselves in houses from as early as 6pm,” said the administrator, who asked not to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
Remained indoors
“On Tuesday, after reports of the abduction of two people filled the air, everyone here in Hindi remained indoors. There was no movement of vehicles that evening due to the fear. We, however, thank our security agencies for increasing patrols in this place."
It was the same situation in Bomani, Kibaoni, Majembeni, Mapenya, Juhudi, Salama, Amkeni, Mavuno, Poromoko and other villages of Mpeketoni and Witu divisions.
Residents called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to visit the area and assure them of their security.
"We urge CS Matiang'i to come down to our villages. The tension is so high that we can't conduct our daily activities including farming and grazing,” said Judas Kamau.
“The enemy is unpredictable and something serious needs to be done."
