A section of Waberi ward residents now want security agencies to investigate an emerging group of armed ‘militia’ terrorizing them.
Addressing the press in Bula Kunaso on behalf of the residents, Abdirizak Ahmed the village elder claimed that the armed militants on Sunday raided a quarry in the area where they beat up the casual labourers and robbed them of their personal belongings including mobile phones.
The latest incident comes in the wake of a series of killings that has been associated with wealthy individuals with a land expansionist agenda. On December 5th last year a man was shot dead in the same area.
Locals said they have given up reporting to the police since no action would be taken.
Abdirizak wondered how the armed militia could operate with impunity whereas security agencies ‘seem to give it a blind eye’.
The residents warned that the situation might get out of hand since the militia are allegedly associated with some wealthy individuals and politicians.
The village elder added that the situation might take a clan dimension and become more dangerous.
Abdirizak said that jobless youths who have resorted to eking a living from the quarry could no longer access the area for fear of being attacked by the militia whom they claimed are being fed while in their hideout.
Idriss Abdi, a casual labourer said what is worrying them is that despite the killings being reported to the police, they don’t bother to visit the scene.
“Since the killings started no one has been arrested and prosecuted,” Abdi said.
Abdi said the Occurrence Book (OB) No. 47 of August 17 last year was one of a series of police reports they made at Garissa police station with security bosses giving them no solutions.
“What is the purpose of just reporting to the police with no action. These people have other agenda among them to evict us from our residence which we will not allow, the government should intervene,” he added.
Ole Kipury called for calm amongst the residents noting security agencies are ‘hunting down the suspected gang’.
He said a unit from the DCI ‘are hunting them down since they have their names. It’s a matter of time before we arrest them’.
The DCC noted that if there is any wealthy individuals or politicians involved, ‘they will definitely be arrested and prosecuted’.