Five killed as bandits ambush police search team in Isiolo

In Isiolo County, at least five individuals, comprising two police officers, were killed on Wednesday morning in an ambush carried out by suspected bandits, according to police reports. The victims were targeted during an operation aimed at recovering stolen livestock.

Isiolo County Police Commander Isaac Sang disclosed that the incident occurred following a previous attack where a man lost his life on Tuesday evening after becoming disoriented while returning home. The man, who was reportedly mentally unstable, wandered into the dense vegetation and was cornered and killed by suspected attackers believed to be from Samburu County. His family reported the incident to the ASTU police post in Gotu on Wednesday morning, seeking assistance to locate and recover his body.

During the recovery operation, the attackers launched a surprise assault on local police officers and residents, opening fire and killing the two police officers from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) and the National Police Reservist (NPR), as well as one other individual. This resulted in a total death toll of five. Sang urged residents to maintain calmness as the police intensify their pursuit of the attackers using armored vehicles.

All bodies had been recovered from the thicket by Wednesday afternoon. The ambush is believed to be connected to a separate cattle-rustling incident that took place in neighboring Igembe Central, Meru County, on Tuesday, where a local herdsman was shot and killed by armed raiders.