A shocking daylight robbery at a mobile money shop in Timau, Meru County, has led to the arrest of two suspects, following the release of CCTV footage showing the horrifying moment an agent was held at gunpoint.
The suspects were part of a three-man gang that stormed the shop, dressed in green jungle-like uniforms and armed with AK-47 rifles, creating panic in the small trading center.
The footage showed them threatening and trying to force entry into the shop as the visibly terrified mobile money agent struggled to escape.
According to police reports, the alert was first raised by a police reservist, who spotted one of the armed robbers wielding an AK-47. The reservist bravely confronted the gunman, prompting the suspect to drop the rifle and flee the scene on foot.
In response to the distress call, police officers from Kathare, Subuiga, and Buuri East police stations quickly mobilized and launched a manhunt for the suspects. Their search efforts led them to a suspicious motor vehicle believed to have been used by the robbers during the heist.
Inside the vehicle, police discovered a female suspect, who was promptly arrested as she tried to escape. Meanwhile, one of her male accomplices was found hiding in a nearby residential house and was also taken into custody.
“A female suspect was caught attempting to flee from the vehicle, while her male counterpart was tracked down and arrested while hiding in a nearby home,” read a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The DCI revealed that the suspects were dressed in military-style uniforms and heavily armed, suggesting a well-orchestrated operation. On Wednesday evening, June 4, a brief shootout erupted between police and the suspects as part of the ongoing crackdown.
The CCTV footage also captured the terrifying moment the robbers stormed into the M-Pesa shop and demanded that the attendant open the door. When she hesitated, one of the gunmen fired at her, but she narrowly escaped injury by running into a back room.
Tragically, another customer at the shop was shot and injured as the robbers fled the scene after grabbing 15 smartphones.
As of now, two suspects are in police custody, while a manhunt is underway to locate the third suspect who managed to escape.
Security agencies are also investigating how the criminals got access to military-grade AK-47 rifles, which are strictly issued to official state security personnel.
The officers successfully recovered a firearm and ammunition, which have been taken in as part of the case evidence.
This disturbing incident has raised serious concerns about rising insecurity and the increasing use of illegal firearms by criminals. Authorities have promised to intensify security operations in the area and urged the public to share any information that might lead to the arrest of the remaining suspect.
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