ISIOLO, Kenya, Dec, 3 – A police operation in Isiolo on Thursday led to the recovery of 13 firearms and 111 goats following a spate of violence pitting two rival communities.
The goats had been stolen from Muthaara area in Meru County.
The livestock were stolen about a month ago as hostilities between neighbouring communities in Isiolo intensified .
According to police, the insecurity had worst hit Ngaremara area of isiolo county.
Police who spoke to Shahidi News said the firearms were surrendered. One firearm had been surrendered on Wednesday and 13 others on Thursday.
Isiolo county commissioner Herman Shambi received the goats and the firearms.
He urged the two warring communities to foster peace and shun ethnic rivalry along the common border of Isiolo and Meru.
“We have seen several people lose their livestock and sadly even their lives, this needs to end. Communities must learn to co-exist peacefully,” the Isolo County Commissioner said.
Security apparatus said the move is a step in the right direction particularly following the recent tragic incident where police officers were attacked and killed by suspected bandits in the area.
The 13 illegal firearms that were recovered are now expected to be subjected to ballistic tests to ascertain if they are the weapons that were used to wage the attack on police officers in Meru.
“The progress we are making is partly because of the elders, peace ambassadors and even elected leaders that are advising their communities to brace peaceful dialogue as a means of addressing these challenges. Though the bandits are yet to be arrested we are hopeful they will be found,” he said.
Isiolo police commander Joseph Tugen told Shahidi news that the goats were recovered in two batches of 95 goats in the last three days while 18 were recovered on Wednesday.
This is the exact number that were reported stolen in Muthaara over a month ago.
The recovered firearms among them a carbine rifle is said to be the weapons of choice for gangs and bandits operating in the area.
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