Six shot dead in Baragoi cattle raid
Tension is high in Baragoi following cattle raid that left six dead.
What you need to know:
- The attacks come a few months after President Ruto promised Samburu locals that he would redeploy the revered Special Operations Group (SoG) to the region.
- Locals enjoyed peace in Baragoi for more than two years for the first time in about three decades, but renewed attacks are threatening return to 'dark days.'
At least six people were on Tuesday shot dead and eight others seriously injured in a cattle raid in Baragoi, Samburu County.
Samburu North Deputy County Commissioner Samwel Mwangi confirmed the deaths, stating that police units have been deployed to restore calm in the region that appears to be slipping back to its dark history. Back in November 2012, more than 40 police officers and reservists were killed in Suguta Valley near Baragoi while on a mission to recover stolen cattle in what is widely known as the "Baragoi Massacre".
According to Mr Mwangi, some of the units that are on the ground include officers from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit, Rapid Deployment Unit and the National Police Reservists.
"So far, we have retrieved six bodies from the scene. Our officers are on the ground to prevent further violence and to pursue attackers," Mr Mwangi told the Nation on Tuesday.
How it happened
The administrator revealed that heavily armed raiders stormed a settlement in Kilepoi area. They opened fire before driving away an unknown number of livestock.
The injured have been rushed to Baragoi and Samburu County Referral Hospital for treatment while security agencies assess the extent of the damage.
Bodies of the victims are being taken to Samburu County Referral Hospital in Maralal where post-mortems will be conducted.
Baragoi residents remain tense following the attack as they fear subsequent attacks.
Locals held protests over the incident while demanding swift government intervention to curb escalating cattle rustling and insecurity in the region.
Old tyres were briefly lit in Baragoi town on Tuesday as demonstrators called for increased security presence.
Resurgence of banditry
Samburu North has seen a resurgence of banditry that evokes painful memories of the region's troubled past.
After more than two years of relative calm, the area where two communities (Samburu and Turkana) live is now seeing a return to its past insecurity era, one that plagued it for nearly three decades.
At least twelve people have been killed this year alone in banditry-related incidents.
The presence of illegal guns in Samburu and other bandit-prone regions has been blamed for elusive peace over the years.
The attacks come months after President William Ruto promised Samburu locals that he would redeploy the revered Special Operations Group (SOG) to the region to boost security.
During their stay in Samburu North, the SoG also disarmed criminals who possessed illegal arms. More than 96 illegal guns were mopped during the disarmament operation by the revered military unit.
Increased cattle raids are seen by locals as a sign that herders in the region continue to illegally possess arms.
Gondieki@ke.nationmedia.com