Surrender illegal fire arms, residents asked

Mt Elgon, Monday, June 5, 2023

KNA by Douglas Mudambo

Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Mt Elgon Sub County Bungoma County Benjamin Nzioka has given a directive to residents possessing illegal fire arms to surrender them to security officers.

Speaking to the press after a security brief, the DCC said that despite effort by his team to maintain peace and unity in the sub county, a few people were still in possession of illegal fire arms.

Nzioka said that the few with the fire arms in the area were well known by the community and directed that in case they failed to heed to his call, then the security agents would have no option but to go for them.

The Deputy County Commissioner gave the directive after a business man David Ngeywo was shot dead at Kaptama market a month ago.

"Despite the fact that arrests have been made following the killing of a business man David Ngeywo, reports indicate that there are still people in possession of illegal fire arms hiding them in the forest," said the DCC.

The tough talking commissioner directed his security team that he chairs, led by the office of Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), to ensure that the gun used to shoot the business man is repossessed with immediate effect. 

He noted that the fire arm used was in possession of a civilian who is hiding in the forest trying to play a cat and mouse game with the security officers.

Nzioka has called upon the person to surrender and take responsibility for the shooting before the government goes for him.

However, on behalf of the security team, the DCC applauded the residents for maintaining law, order and peace despite a few cases, which he said the team would not tire until they were brought to book.

He called upon the security team and other officers from the Ministry of Interior and National Co-ordination to be on high alert and report any person of suspicious character so that action could be taken.

During a tour of Chepkitale Kaptama division over the weekend, Bungoma County Police Commander Francis Kooni echoed similar sentiments on illegal fire arms.

Kooni cautioned any one in possession of an illegal firearm to drop it at the nearest police post failure to which they would face the law.

He pointed out that failure to obey the said directive would force him to call for reinforcement by General Service Unit police officers to conduct an operation until the illegal fire arms are repossessed. 

Courtesy ;K. N. A