A brazen attack by a motorcycle gang in Ruai, Nairobi, left two police officers with serious life-threatening injuries and resulted in the theft of two AK-47 rifles loaded with 60 rounds of ammunition. The incident occurred at around 1am on Tuesday, with the attackers targeting the officers while they were on patrol duties. The officers, identified as Corporals John Maritim and Felistus Tuitoek, were rushed to Reale Hospital in Utawala for treatment.
The attack has triggered a major police operation aimed at recovering the stolen firearms and apprehending the suspects. According to reports, the gang descended on the officers, inflicting serious head and hand injuries before escaping with the rifles. The police have launched an investigation into the incident, but details about the gang's identity and motives remain unclear.
This incident is not an isolated case, as a similar attack occurred in Likoni, Mombasa, just weeks prior. On October 26, a gang armed with crude weapons attacked officers manning a county government access barrier, resulting in the death of one officer and the theft of a police firearm. Mombasa County Police Commander Stella Jerono confirmed the attack, stating that officers from both the county government's enforcement unit and the administrative police service were targeted.
The Likoni attack occurred at around 3:40am along Barabara ya Mchanga, roughly three kilometres west of the Inuka Police Station, at a checkpoint used for cess collection in Likoni Sub-County. A duty officer on patrol in the area heard gunshots coming from the checkpoint and rushed to the scene with colleagues. They found Corporal George Odera and fellow officer Wilfred Amin under attack from an unknown number of armed assailants.
In the ensuing struggle, the gang snatched a rifle from Officer Amin after inflicting deep cuts to his hand and shooting him in the left thigh. The stolen weapon, an AK-47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, remains missing. The incident has raised concerns about the security situation in the region and the ability of law enforcement agencies to protect themselves and the public.
The police have urged the public to provide any information that may lead to the recovery of the stolen firearms and the arrest of the suspects. The incident has also sparked a debate about the increasing use of motorcycle gangs in violent crimes and the need for more effective measures to curb this trend.
The two police officers in Ruai are receiving treatment at Reale Hospital in Utawala, and their condition is reported to be critical. The police have promised to provide support to the officers and their families during this difficult time.
Key points
- Two police officers were seriously injured and two AK-47 rifles stolen in a brazen attack by a motorcycle gang in Ruai, Nairobi.
- A similar attack occurred in Likoni, Mombasa, just weeks prior, resulting in the death of one officer and the theft of a police firearm.
- The police have launched an investigation into both incidents and are urging the public to provide any information that may lead to the recovery of the stolen firearms and the arrest of the suspects.
