Nine more arrested over death of cops in Lamu raid
Police in the Milihoi area of Lamu county have arrested nine suspects in connection to last Friday’s attack that claimed the lives of four police officers drawn from the General Service Unit (GSU).
Three of the four officers were burnt beyond recognition, while the fourth died from gunshot wounds after their vehicle that was escorting other vehicles plying the Katsakakiro area was ambushed by suspected al Shabaab militants.
The latest arrest brings to 19 the number of suspects in police custody following recent attacks in the county which have so far claimed 12 lives.
Yesterday, Coast Regional Coordinator John Elungata, Lamu County Commissioner Irungu Macharia and Coast Regional Police Commander Mannasseh Musyoka held a security meeting to deliberate on the rising insecurity in the area despite the dusk to dawn curfew imposed last week.
Senior officers of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit the General Service Unit (GSU) also attended the meeting.
Speaking after the day-long meeting, Elungata said a multi-agency team had managed to arrest nine suspects.
“Security apparatus have managed to arrest nine suspects who are in our custody and we are interrogating them,” he said.
The Regional Coordinator said the Friday attack on police officers was calculated to divert attention from the real motive of the attacks witnessed early last week.
Tension remained high in the Coastal county following deployment of more security personnel.
“We are aware that the latest attack was a diversionary attack and the motive was for us to lose focus on the earlier attacks after they suspected we were closing in on those who were responsible,” he said.
He added that the militants were being hosted by some residents.
“You know Al-Shabaab cannot stay and live in an area where they have no friends. We are aware that there are Al-Shabaab sympathizers among us who are hosting them,” said Elungata.
He at the same time called on residents to cooperate with security agencies in exposing Al-Shabaab sympathisers.
On Monday last week, seven people were murdered in two separate attacks that police now believe were carried out by Al-Shabaab militants.
The suspects are being detained at Mpeketoni Police Station for 15 days to allow police to complete investigations.
