Police in Laikipia on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, arrested two individuals linked to the loss of ammunition during a raid conducted in Minjore area, Kirima sub-county.
According to a statement by the National Police Service (NPS), the arrest of the two, Josphat Maina Karanja and his wife Teresiah Wairimu followed an intelligence-led operation.
During the raid, the officers recovered 2,658 rounds of ammunition.
“Police in Laikipia yesterday April 17, 2024, nabbed 2, 658 rounds of ammunition from the home of one Josphat Maina Karanja within Minjore area, Kirima Sub-County.
“The owner Josphat Karanja was also arrested together with his wife Teresiah Wairimu, during the raid. The National Police Service thanks the members of the public for the success of this intelligence-led operation,” the statement by NPS read in part.
The latest comes days after detectives seized a firearm forcefully stolen from a Vihiga OCS during an attack last year.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) issued a statement saying the firearm was retrieved in Mwiki, Kasarani, after a confrontation between the gang that ambushed the OCS before stealing his firearm.
“A firearm that was violently robbed from the Officer Commanding Vihiga Police Station when a criminal gang attacked him while on patrol on December 21, 2023, has been recovered in Mwiki, Kasarani sub-county. One member of the gang from whose possession the Jericho pistol was recovered was also neutralized after daring a gunfight with the DCI Operations team that was trailing them,” DCI stated.
“To get the firearm, the ruthless gang had on the said date waylaid the Chief Inspector as he parked his car in Vihiga’s Majengo market, descending on him with daggers and leaving him for the dead. They then disappeared with his Jericho pistol loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition.”
Attempts to get the suspects to surrender were futile forcing the detectives to use force. One of the gang members in possession of the missing firearm was gunned down by the detectives while his accomplices managed to escape.
The detectives also impounded the vehicle the suspects were using alongside other exhibits found stashed in it.
“On challenging the miscreants to surrender, two of the three took to their heels as the shot suspect brandished the firearm for a battle of guns and was gunned down. His accomplices made it to the populated shopping centre and holed up but the police are hot on their trail,” DCI added.
