A crisis erupt in Ndunyu Njeru, Nyandarua County after three suspects died in police cells.The station was set on fire by irate residents who accused the police of abetting cattle rustling.
Tension gripped Ndunyu Njeru in Nyandarua County on Thursday night after angry residents torched a local police station, leaving three suspected cattle thieves dead. The incident occurred while the suspects were being held in the station’s cells.
According to Nyandarua Central Deputy County Commissioner, Michael Ololtuaa, the residents had arrested three individuals suspected of cattle theft and handed them over to police.
However, the mood turned hostile when the locals, who had suffered several cases of cattle theft, suspected the police of colluding with the criminals. While addressing an emergency security meeting at Ndunyu Njeru police station, Nyandarua County Police Commander Stella Cherono called on members of the public to exercise restraint while seeking redress on complaints against police.
During the night protest, over 400 irate members of the public burned the main police station block, the crime office and the chief’s office.
Repots from police says that four officers’ houses were broken into and assorted items stolen. However, one suspect, Joseph Mukono was rescued alive and rushed to Nyayo hospital at Engineer.
Security agencies have promised to take swift action to bring those responsible to justice and restore order in the volatile region.
