Police officers in Kisumu are pursuing a group of bodaboda operators who allegedly attacked villagers Tuesday night and earlier Wednesday in Kolwa Central ward, Kisumu East sub-county.
The group identified as ‘Zone’ extended their attack earlier Wednesday within Ragumo and Ofunyu villages causing harms and unrest to the Kolwa Central community. The attack left at least five people injured. Residents who were attacked revealed that the gang had been harmed with machetes, clubs, arrows, and knives, which they used to inflict injuries on innocents.
Confirming the incident, Central Kolwa Location chief Elijah Otieno Omumbo said it was not the first time the ‘Zone’ organization was raiding his area of jurisdiction with the same aim of causing harm and scare.
“The same group raided my location some months ago and interfered with the security of the area. They have also come again and this time beating innocents with crude weapons causing injuries,” said Omumbo.
He said the act was uncalled for and the culprits will be dealt with as per the law.
The Kolwa Central Ward Representative George Olwal also blamed Nyamasaria police officers for sleeping on their job, terming it the act hooliganism.
“I will not allow this to happen in my area of jurisdiction. I am going to protect my people from hooligans even if it means my last breath,” he said.
According to Kolwa Central Traders Association chairman Tobias Owino Seda, the bodaboda gang was looking for a man called Alfie who they said is a criminal, but turned to beat and stab innocents with their knives and crude weapons.
“Generally they came to look for Alfie who comes from Ofunyu village but unfortunately they could not spare anyone on their way including mama mbogas. They clobbered even fellow bodaboda riders and took away their motorbikes,” said Tobias Owino Seda.
The residents now want the ‘Zone’ bodaboda organization to be disbanded with immediate effect terming it a group of hooligans.
Some of the injured residents were treated and discharged at Ragumo dispensary in Kolwa central while others with deep cuts referred to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital for further treatment.
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