Three shot dead over illegal firearm trade

By OSINDE OBARE

West Pokot, Kenya: Three suspects linked to illegal fiream racket were on Tuesday shot dead in West Pokot County.

Two others escaped with bullet injuries during a fierce gun battle with police in Tartar area near Makutano town.

West Pokot Deputy OCPD Moses Owiti said police managed to recover an AK 47 riffle and a home made gun. 20 rounds of ammunition were also seized.

According to Owiti, police laid an ambush when they received a tip off from a member of the public on the illicit trade.

Police officers posing as potential buyers of the gun laid a trap when the suspects turned up.

It was while the negotiations were on when officers arrived but one of the suspects flashed out the rifle and fired at the officers who returned fire.

“Police had laid an ambush and ordered the suspects to lie down but instead, one of the suspects opened fire at the officers forcing them to return fire leading to the death of the three,” said Owiti.

Owiti said they had early received information from members of public that the suspects had planned to sell a fire arm in Makutano town when they laid a trap.

The officer said police used a cell phone of another suspect in police custody in Kapenguria to lure his accomplices in the gun trade.

“Our officer said they laid an ambush at Tartar village along Makutano – Keringet road where the transaction was to take place. The suspects were suspicious when they saw officers arriving at the area,” added the officer.

By Wednesday, police were on hot pursuit of the two suspects who escaped into a maize plantation with serious bullet wounds.

A residents, Elizabeth Lopeile said she discovered blood stained clothes in her compound.

“I found some clothes, shoes and Sh100 in my compound,” she told police.

The bodies of the slain suspects were removed to Kitale district mortuary awaiting identification.