Busia County Detectives have arrested a robbery suspect with links to Uganda believed to be the leader of a gang responsible for raiding schools.
The arrest comes in the wake of a daring robbery at Bishop Sulumeti Chelelemuk Girls Secondary School in Teso North sub-county of Busia County, which occurred on March 8, 2024.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed the arrest in a statement, indicating that the gang leader, identified as Benard Juma Olula, had been evading law enforcement for some time.
“Detectives in Busia are holding a notorious robbery suspect believed to have led a five-member gang for a daring robbery at Bishop Sulumeti Chelelemuk Girls Secondary School in the county’s Teso North sub-county,” read part of the statement.
According to a statement released by the DCI, the 45-year-old is suspected to have masterminded various violent robberies in Bungoma, Vihiga, Kakamega, and Busia Counties.
“Bishop Sulumeti girls’ school Principal reported that Juma led the gang that stole HP laptops and thousands of shillings from the school bursar’s and principal’s offices,” DCI said.
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DCI Confirms the Gang Hires Rifles for Robbery
Furthermore, DCI noted that crime research detectives, who have been analyzing Juma’s criminal profile believe that he is a gun-hardened felon with links to Uganda.
Juma has also been allegedly involved in hiring rifles for use in armed robberies, facilitated by contacts across the border.
However, one of his main suppliers from Uganda was recently apprehended and sentenced to 40 years in prison, disrupting the gang’s operations.
Prosecution processes have since been instigated, with detectives securing custodial orders with a view to hunt down Juma’s accomplices and subject the whole ring to justice.
This arrest comes in the wake of heightened concern over school raids.
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In a similar case, a security guard at a secondary school in Thika tragically lost his life, while another guard sustained severe injuries during a raid by a machete-wielding gang on 23rd January 2024.
The assailants are said to have launched a surprise attack on the guards, forcibly entering all doors of the administration building at Karibaribi Secondary School.
Subsequently, the gang of six individuals gained entry to the premises, where they proceeded to steal 16 laptops.