Laare OCS Ezra Sambo has condemned in the strongest possible terms a mob justice incident that took place in Kanthale village in Meru County.
“Police received a mob justice report at Antubetwe early morning”, Laare OCS Ezra Sambo said in a statement.
According to information police received, the deceased was on a robbery expedition late at night. A chase ensued after members of the community responded when they heard a victim screaming for help.
The suspect was apprehended, severely beaten, stoned to death and allegedly slashed into pieces by members of the community.
Ezra Sambo requested members of the community to hand suspects over to the police or request the police to come pick them up once they have apprehended them so that they may be taken into custody and arraigned in court.
“In Antubetwe, residents frequently commit acts of mob justice, particularly against young men. They should not take the law into their own hands because the incident could happen to another suspect who might be innocent ,” said Sambo.
“The deceased had been implicated in a number of theft instances, but it was difficult to apprehend him,” said Sambo.
He added that at Laare police station, OB numbers of reported cases of the suspect are many.
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According to a resident, the suspect was an armed robber who stole Miraa and goats. He was also a member of a gang called the 27 brothers.
“The members of the gang are from Kanthale, Nganya, and Kiutine. I implore the gang members to cease operations and leave Kanthale. Another suggestion for them is to get saved and start attending church services, which are plenty,” said the resident.
According to Peter, a resident, the deceased, along with another accomplice, had previously set fire to his brother’s home. Members of the community apprehended his accomplice and burned him alive. However the deceased managed to flee.
“He was recently implicated in a theft incident in which a resident’s goat was stolen. The goat was a dowry payment for his daughter, and he only had a 15-minute view of it,” said Peter.
“He also stole three goats from a Mr. Nchuera, two from a Mr. Ntonja, and several from a Mr. Charles. He stole a cow from a a resident, another from Mr. Kalule, and yet another from Mr. Kaberia,” said Peter.
“We have suffered losses as a result of his theft, and we thank God for what has happened to him because we can now rest. His death calls for an overnight celebration of chewing Miraa,” said Peter.
“We appreciate the police officers’ efforts in the past, and we have excellent news for them: there will be no more theft reports,” said Peter.
“A deadline was set to the deceased to change his ways and commit his life to Christ, but he refused. The deceased had previously been suspected of slashing a police officer with a machette,” said Peter.
“We’re warning the rest of the gang members that their time is running out and that we’ll soon catch up with them. It is also not too late for them to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. If they repent, they will be pardoned,” said Peter.
According to Kithinji, a resident, several police stations, including Maua, Mutuati, and Laare, received reports of his thefts with residents having a plethora of OB numbers with them.
“Today we rejoice because the suspect who robbed us of our serenity has been eliminated. Among other crimes, he used to rape women,” said Kithinji.
“He used to flee to Kiutine and hide in the Ngaya forest after learning of his impending arrest. Every time he realized he was being trailed by the police, he committed a heist before fleeing,” said Kithinji.
“An incident of a victim in Ndulu village being slashed with a machette and then abandoned has lately been reported. Residents discovered the victim battling for his life on a road the next morning, and the deceased was a prime suspect,” said Kithinji.
He further added that the deceased was identified as Ezekiel Ngari, and posed a threat to the community, particularly after 6:00 p.m.
