Two Suspected Gang Members Arrested, Five Pangas Recovered In Swift Police Operation In Nthiwa, Migori
Inside the vehicle were two suspects, identified as Hillary Odhiambo and James Oloo Otieno, who were immediately arrested.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
Police in Migori County have arrested two men suspected to be members of a criminal gang and recovered five pangas and other crude weapons after detectives moved swiftly to foil a suspected criminal plot along Nthiwa Road in Yamase.
The operation, which was carried out on Monday, followed credible human intelligence indicating that a group of persons suspected to be armed with crude weapons was moving in two vehicles along the Nthiwa-Yamase route, raising suspicion of a planned attack.
Acting on the intelligence, detectives from the elite Operation Action Team (OAT) swung into action and mounted a tactical interception along the road. They managed to intercept one of the vehicles, a silver Toyota Voxy, registration number KDB 463W at Yamase.
Inside the vehicle were two suspects, identified as Hillary Odhiambo and James Oloo Otieno, who were immediately arrested.
A thorough search of the vehicle yielded five pangas and other crude weapons, believed to have been intended for use in criminal activities in the area. Police believe the weapons were meant for a planned robbery or retaliatory gang attack targeting residents.
The suspects and the recovered weapons were escorted to custody, where the duo is currently undergoing processing pending arraignment in court.
Confirming the arrest, detectives said the swift action prevented what could have been a serious criminal incident along the busy Nthiwa Road, which has in recent months witnessed cases of gang-related insecurity.
Meanwhile, detectives are pursuing additional leads to trail down and arrest other persons believed to have been part of the larger group who are suspected to have escaped in the second vehicle that was not intercepted during the operation.
Security officers in Migori County have intensified operations against criminal gangs operating along the Nthiwa, Suna and Uriri routes, following complaints from locals about increased cases of armed robberies, assaults and land-related violence.
Residents have been urged to continue sharing credible information with security agencies to help foil criminal plots before they happen.
The National Police Service has commended the OAT team for the swift response and assured residents of Migori that operations to rid the area of criminal gangs will continue.
The two suspects are expected to be charged with being in possession of crude weapons and preparation to commit a felony, as investigations continue to establish the full extent of the gang’s activities and its network in the region.
Police are also verifying the ownership of the Toyota Voxy and whether it has been used in previous criminal activities in Migori and neighboring Homa Bay County.
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