The police officers said the armed bandits ambushed the police officers who were in a lorry that was pursuing cattle which had been stolen in a raid in Samburu Baragoi.
"Some 9 police officers were killed, 8 seriously injured and three escaped with minor injuries. The policemen were pursuing some cattle which had been stolen in Samburu Baragoi when unknown gunmen ambushed their lorry," the local police said who did not want to be named.
Regional police commander, John Mbijiwe confirmed the incident, saying the police officers were on a mission to recover stolen livestock when they were ambushed by the bandits who sprayed them with bullets.
"The officers were on a mission to recover more than 400 livestock stolen from Samburu by rustlers believed to be from a neighboring community," Mbijiwe said.
Sources said the armed bandits laid an ambush in Lomelok area before spraying the officers with bullets in an attack that baffled the local administration as well as residents of Baragoi.
"Five of the injured have been airlifted to Nairobi for specialized treatment. We have reinforced security in the area and also launched a major manhunt for the bandits," said Mbijiwe.
On Oct. 30, at least 13 people were killed and three others seriously injured in tribal clashes involving two communities a few kilometres from the same area.
Local leaders said the clashes occurred when heavily armed raiders from the Samburu community invaded a village and stole 205 camels and two donkeys during the early morning raid in Samburu County in northwestern Kenya.
Local councilor, Lawrence Lorunyei said the raiders attacked several manyattas and drove away the animals sparking a fierce shootout between the raiders and the residents.
Tension has remained high as the residents' fear that the attacks may continue as the Samburu and Turkana communities' plan of retaliatory attacks.
Divisional police commander, Maurice Makhano said security has been beefed up in the region to quell the violence in the area.
from XINHUA
Editor: Mu Xuequan
2012-11-11 06:01:33
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Kabul Time
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