Police recover 35 stolen camels in Isiolo

Police recover 35 stolen camels in Isiolo

Police in Isiolo County have recovered 35 camels that were stolen in Duse area of Garbatula four days ago.

The camels, belonging to Somali herders from Lagdera in Garissa County, were located at Biliqo Marara after crossing the Ewaso Nyiro River into Merti Sub County having trekked for a distance of more than 200 kilometers through the bushy area.

Speaking at Mbarabate when presenting the camels to their rightful owners, Garbatula Deputy County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto, lauded the security team that comprised of Administration Police officers, Kenya Police Reservists (KPRs), area chiefs and peace committee elders from the counties of Isiolo and Garissa.

He said that the team managed to trace the footsteps of the stolen animals through the vast bushes for a period of four days and got to the animals Tuesday night with the bandits fleeing after a brief gun battle with the security team.

Ruto warned that the security team will not spare cattle rustlers in an effort to discourage the practice.

Lagdera Member of Parliament, Mohamed Shidiye, who accompanied the herders, said that the Boranas from Isiolo and Somalis from Garissa must learn to live in peace by respecting each other’s property.

He stated that the government had put in place measures to ensure that pastoralists live in peace by providing the police with adequate resources such as vehicles, fuel and weapons in order to avert any threats to peace.

The legislator, however, warned that some of the bandits are heavily armed, something that threatens security in the area.

He urged Borana elders to accommodate their fellow herders during the dry spell as they will always go back when the situation improves in their home County.

Elders from the peace committees in the two Counties lauded efforts by the Garbatula Security team for discouraging the raiders after holding the camels for many days.

Led by Dakane Fulir from Lagdera and Muktar Ungiti from Garbatula, the elders resolved to help combat the cattle rustling menace that is so prevalent in the region.

Dagane said that the stolen animals belonged to orphans whose father was killed a few months ago. He noted that the hard work by the security team and elders deserve commendation, adding that the same team had managed to recover goats that were stolen in Belgesh only two weeks ago.

The elder said that the bandits were out to cause ethnic animosity between the two neighbours while only fulfilling their individual interests to get rich quickly.

An adult camel has a market value of between 100,000 and 130,000 shillings, making it the most valuable animal in the area.

Report by Josiah Mugo

Tags:

kenya garissa isiolo CATTLE RUSTLING pastoralists Camels

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