Five people, among them two police officers, have reportedly been killed in a bandit attack in Gotu, Isiolo County.
Isiolo Governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo confirmed the deaths on September 16, while calling for urgent action to address insecurity in the area.
“I strongly condemn the latest bandit attack in the Gotu area that has claimed the lives of five people, including two police officers.It is deeply saddening and unacceptable that our people and security officers continue to lose their lives to armed banditry. These repeated attacks are causing fear, disrupting livelihoods and undermining peace in our communities,” stated Guyo.
Bandit Attack Leaves 5 Dead, Including 2 Police Officers
Guyo said the attack had affected both residents and security officers, with several incidents disrupting livelihoods and creating fear in the community.
One of the officers killed was reportedly a Chief Inspector attached to the Gotu Administration Police Service Tactical Unit camp.
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The governor called on Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen and national security agencies to increase security operations in Gotu and neighboring areas.
“I urge the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen and the national security agencies to urgently strengthen security operations in Gotu and the surrounding areas, enhance patrols and intelligence gathering and take decisive action against those responsible,” said the governor.
He urged authorities to strengthen patrols and intelligence gathering and pursue those responsible for the attack.
Guyo also sent condolences to the families of the five people killed and wished those injured a quick recovery.
He said urgent measures were needed to prevent further loss of life and restore security in the affected communities.
Recent Bandit Attacks in Isiolo
The latest attack comes after a series of banditry incidents reported in Isiolo and neighboring areas in recent months, involving both civilians and security officers.
The incidents have included livestock-related clashes, ambushes and shootings, with some attacks occurring in areas close to county borders.
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A suspected bandit attack was reported along the Meru-Isiolo border in August, where two people were killed. The incident added to a series of security concerns reported across the county and neighboring regions.
More recently, a police constable was reportedly shot when an Anti-Stock Theft Unit patrol team was ambushed by suspected bandits in Kakili, Burat Ward.
The incidents have placed security operations in parts of Isiolo under pressure, particularly in areas affected by livestock theft and clashes involving armed groups.
In February, a National Police Reservist, Augustino Ekale, was killed and four other reservists injured during a confrontation with suspected bandits in the Mlango area of Burat Ward.
Police said the officers were part of a multi-agency operation targeting livestock theft under Operation Dumisha Amani when they encountered a group believed to have stolen livestock.
The confrontation also led to the recovery of some of the livestock believed to have been stolen, and later that day, a group attempted to take the recovered animals, prompting officers to fire shots into the air to disperse the crowd.
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