On Monday, eight remandees escaped following an ambush by suspected Turkana bandits on a police convoy escorting prisoners in Samburu County, resulting in the death of a police officer.
While officers were transporting detainees from Maralal GK Prison to Baragoi for a mobile court session, the attack took place at Charda on the Maralal-Baragoi-South Horr road.
Commander Robert Amuke of Marti Police Station confirmed the incident, disclosing that the deceased officer was a police constable serving as a driver at the time of the attack.
Amuke informed the press, “On Monday at approximately 1900 hours, I received reports that officers from Baragoi Police Station escorting remandees had been assaulted by suspected Turkana bandits.”
It was reported that the police officer sustained several gunshot injuries during the ambush, which resulted in his death.
Moreover, there are fears that the bandits may have made off with an AK-47 rifle containing 30 rounds of ammunition, as this weapon was not found at the scene.
According to the police, a multi-agency team comprising officers from the Kenya Defence Forces and other police units was sent to the area to aid in the rescue operation after the attack.
While pursuing the bandits, the team succeeded in finding two officers who had sheltered in thick underbrush and still had their weapons.
However, two officers from the police escort were still not accounted for, along with the escaped prisoners.
Further details from police reports indicated that the escaped individuals were up against severe accusations such as defilement, gang defilement, possession of illegal firearms, murder, and violent robbery.
As inquiries into the event progress, the body of the murdered officer was moved to the morgue at Baragoi Sub-County Hospital.
This escape occurred just a few days after another incident on Sunday, January 26, when eight suspects escaped from Wundanyi Prison by climbing and breaching the facility’s roof.
