By Dorothy Musyoka
Police officers have successfully arrested a lone highway robber who has been terrorizing truck drivers at the Isiolo-Garbatula Junction.
According to the detectives, the suspect, 36-year-old Ibrahim Hassan, was apprehended following a dramatic chase that ended in a crash near Archer’s Police Post.
Hassan, who posed as a stranded traveller, flagged down a white Mitsubishi lorry (registration no. KCC 723S) at the Isiolo-Garbatula junction, pretending to seek a ride to Archer’s town.
The unsuspecting driver, in a show of kindness, agreed to assist him.
However, upon reaching Archer’s town, the suspect refused to alight and instead brandished a knife, threatening the driver and forcing him to continue driving.
“Posing as a stranded traveller, the suspect flagged down a white Mitsubishi lorry registration no. KCC 723S at the Isiolo-Garbatula junction, pretending to seek lift to Archer’s town. The kind-hearted driver, embodying the spirit of a good Samaritan, agreed to give Hassan a ride,” explained the DCI.
Sensing an opportunity, the driver courageously jumped out of the moving lorry and escaped unhurt, immediately alerting police officers stationed at Archer’s Post.
A swift response team was dispatched, launching a high-speed pursuit of the stolen lorry.
Desperate to evade arrest, Hassan sped towards Isiolo town but took an unfamiliar murram road, unknowingly heading back toward Archer’s Post right into the hands of law enforcement.
In his panic, he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree.
“Meanwhile, in his bid to evade capture, Hassan commandeered the lorry towards Isiolo town and into an unfamiliar murram road. But as fate would have it, Hassan found himself speeding straight into Archer’s post, and at his shadow, the hotly pursuing hawkshaws,” added the DCI.
Police officers arrested him at the crash site, where a search of his belongings uncovered a panga, a knife, and a screwdriver.
“He was arrested at the scene of accident, and upon search found in possession of a panga, a knife, and a screwdriver, further confirming his dangerous intentions,” the detectives stated.
Hassan is currently in police custody undergoing processing for arraignment, as investigations continue.