Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo |
Garissa, Kenya: Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo has termed the ongoing operation in Garissa a ‘successful story’.
Kimaiyo said they are interrogating a number of suspects in connection with recent security incidents that left scores of people killed and others wounded in the town.
“As far as I am concerned the exercise is successful and is going on well. We will restore peace in the town,” he said.
Sources said police are now studying bank accounts of some of the suspects arrested in the operation.
One of them is suspected of having ‘illegal’ Sh70 million in his bank account in Mwingi town.
At least ten officers, chiefs and customs officials have been interdicted as part of efforts to address the menace. Area OCPD Ali Losku has also been transferred to police headquarters in Nairobi and will be replaced by Mr Benjamin Ong’ombe from GSU headquarters.
The police operation that started a week ago has seen more than 500 suspects arrested, most of them being refugees.
County Commissioner Mohammed Maalim said the chiefs and their assistants along the border locations of Liboi, Kulan, Dertu and Hagadera were allegedly aiding movement of contraband goods, which led to rampant insecurity in the county.
Business rivalry
Maalim also said two other chiefs within the township and a number of security officers have been asked to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for abetting crime.
He said illegal importation of contraband items including foodstuff from across the border point to Somalia and Ethiopia has fueled business rivalry among locals, adding any State officer involved into such activity will face the full force of the law.
At least three financiers of the terror movement were arrested during a major operation, officials said.
Dahabshil, a financial institution in the town has denied their staff were among those arrested in the operation. A manager Abdi Sheikh Mahamud said his money transfer agency has no links with any terror group and that they operate within the law.
The arrests follow an attack at a popular restaurant in which at least nine people were killed by gunmen.
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