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Three Beheaded in Militia Raid
The Nation (Nairobi)
October 29, 2007
News Article By Benard Kwalia
Police officers on Sunday engaged militiamen in a gun battle after
three people were beheaded in the troubled Mt Elgon District.
An unknown number of suspected militiamen, armed with AK-47 rifles
and pangas, had invaded Kamneru area of Kapsokwony Division and
beheaded the three on Saturday night.
The victims were identified as Moses Ndiwa, 39, a teacher at
Kapkateny Academy, Benson Wekesa, 64, and John Simotwo Kimonge,
50. Police yesterday found only the bodies of Mr Ndiwa and Mr
Wekesa but not their heads. Mr Kimonge's body was still missing.
Villagers said Mr Ndiwa could have been killed after he was seen
in the company of a parliamentary aspirant.
A security team comprising regular and Administration Police and
General Service Unit personnel was yesterday dispatched to Kamneru
where they engaged the fighters in a gun battle.
Destroyed a bridge
On Saturday night, the militiamen also destroyed a bridge on the
Kapsokwony-Namwela road in an apparent attempt to frustrate
security operations in the area.
They also blocked key roads using electricity poles.
District commissioner Mohammed Biriki yesterday said security
officers were pursuing the killers while investigations had been
launched into claims that the militiamen had damaged bridges.
The Saturday night killing came a day after another man was shot
dead by the militiamen at Chebyuk settlement scheme, where
disputed division of land has been blamed for clashes between Soy
and Ndorobo clans.
In the Friday incident, the gang raided Phepokos Village in
Chebyuk at midnight and killed Mr Cleophas Nyonges, 55.
Reported missing
Area police boss Solomon Makau confirmed the attack, and said Mr
Nyonges' body was found at Chebyuk location, and was later taken
to Webuye District Hospital mortuary. He had been reported missing
on Tuesday.
The motive behind the shooting had not been established by
yesterday.
Last week, four militiamen also shot dead a chief, Mr Cleophas
Sonit, 47, in his office at Kapkateny.
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