Ten injured as criminal gang terrorises Kisauni residents
Tension remained high in Kisauni yesterday following morning attacks by a criminal gang that terrorised residents while armed with machetes leaving 10 people injured.
Police blamed the attack on the emergence of a new criminal gang calling itself ‘86 Battalion’ that has its hideout at Mwandoni area, Kisauni.
The gang of over 12 young boys who are believed to be below 18 years, randomly attacked residents in Mgongeni, Frère town, Khadija and Bakarani areas.
One of the victims Andrew Mureithi’s right leg was cut off with a panga as he fled from the gang. Mureithi, 26, was heading to Kongowea Market to open his business when he met the gang.
“I had woken up early at around 4.30 am to go to work and just after I left my house in Bakarani, I met a group of young men armed with pangas.
They ordered me to give them everything I had in my pocket, and just before I did so, one of them placed a panga on my head, I tried to run but unfortunately one of them cut off my leg, I shouted for help and luckily I was helped by neighbours,” he said.
Another victim, Benjamin Samuel, 25, was attacked just a few metres from his house in Mwandoni. He sustained head and hand injuries and is recuperating at the Coast General Hospital.
“I was going to church when I met with some boys who were armed with pangas, they ordered me to give them all I had and just before I did, they had started beating and slashing me with pangas,” he said. One of the gang members was shot by police who visited the area but managed to escape.
Police, who visited one of the hideouts in Mwandoni, established that the gang had put #86 markings on houses.
Nyali deputy county commissioner Silus Gatobu says police have launched a crackdown on the 86 battalion gang and will bring them to book.
“We have established a new gang calling itself 86 battalion is the one attacking people here in Mwandoni and Bakarani area, we have seen their hideouts and we are soon going to arrest owners of the houses for interrogation,” said Gitobu.
While addressing a media briefing at the Coast General Hospital, Haki Africa Rapid response officer Mathias Shipeta said police have been unable to instil security in Kisauni despite residents outcry. He called on police to arrest the perpetrators.
