One person has been abducted and five others injured after eight gunmen armed with AK 47 rifles attacked Chakama Trading centre in Chakama, Makongeni Sub-location in Kilifi County, about 80 kilometres west of Malindi town.
The National Police Service (NPS) confirmed the Tuesday night attack, saying the attackers fired indiscriminately at residents and further abducted an Italian lady aged 23 years who is a volunteer of Africa Milele Onlus, an NGO operating in the area and proceeded towards Magarini area.
"The Gang then abducted an Italian lady aged 23 years who is a volunteer of Africa Milele Onlus, an NGO operating in the area," NPS said in a statement to the press on Wednesday morning.
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NPS said all the injured persons were taken to Malindi Sub-County hospital for treatment and contingents of police officers had been deployed to track down the attackers.
Those injured are:
1. Samini Garama Dadu, aged 23 years was shot on the left side of the neck and is in serious condition.
2. Ibrahim Said, aged 16 years was shot on the left knee and his condition is stable.
3. Elias Mwaringa Kathua, aged 12 years was shot on the left thigh, and his condition is stable according to the police.
4. Mohamed Kalume Konde, aged 10 years was shot on the left eye, and his condition is stable.
5. Mang Katana Jeffa, aged 20 years was shot on the right thigh, and his condition is stable.
Reasons for the attack and the identity of the attackers is yet to be established with the police service saying they are sparing no effort in tracking down the criminals and rescue the victim.
However, witnesses said the attackers' aim was to be given money.
"Their aim was to get money," a male witness told journalists.
The gang is being pursued by administration police officers from Lango Baja AP Post and they have been reinforced by officers from KPS and APS Malindi under the command of CI. Stephen Mwachia OCS and AP IP. Elija Kiptoo.
The police have further appealed to members of the public in the area to report promptly to the nearest police officer or police station should they sight the criminals with the abducted lady.
"Neither the reasons for the attack nor the identity of the attackers have been established. We assure the public that we are sparing no effort in tracking down the criminals and rescue the victim," read the statement in part.
The attack was reported at Malindi police station under OB Number: 83/20/11/2018.
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