Police in Mombasa have arrested a man suspected to be a member of a criminal gang that has been terrorizing Mombasa residents.
According to the Mombasa Police Commander Johnston Ipara, the yet to be identified man was arrested after police officers who were on night patrol ambushed a group of five; three women and two men at Mwembe Tayari on Monday night and found the suspect with a Barette pistol and seven rounds of ammunition.
Flanked by several security officers including County head of Administration Police Nelson Masengeli and Coast Criminal Investigations boss Washington Njiiru, Ipara said the group possibly conducts criminal activities in Mombasa CBD and different other areas such as Kisauni, Majengo, Likoni, Bamburi and Old Town.
Speaking to the press, Ipara who confirmed that the other suspects were also under police custody, said the recovered pistol was used in a robbery incident along in Moi Avenue in Mombasa CBD and Jomvu a week ago.
"This weapon has been used to terrorise Mombasa residents. Recently a businessman was attacked by gangs and lost Sh 60,000 at Inuka area in Likoni. This weapon was also used in a robbery incidence in Moi Avenue and Jomvu robbery incidences last week," he said on Tuesday.
The incident comes few days after four suspected gangsters were shot dead in Kisauni, a move that has seen rights group Haki Africa protest, accusing the National Police Service of continuously perpetrating extra-judicial killings at the Coast region.
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