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38 KENYAN OFFICERS KILLED IN WORST SINGLE INCIDENT
November 13, 2012 - 15:20 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - In the worst single incident for Kenyan police in
living memory, 38 officers were killed in northern Kenya over the
weekend by heavily armed cattle rustlers, according to injured police
reservists who were on the scene, CNN reports.
Local media reports put the number at between 37 and 42 dead. Internal
Security Minister Katoo Ole Metito would not give a total figure on
how many police officers had died.
The police officers were part of an operation to recover cattle
belonging to the Samburu tribe that had been stolen by the Turkana
tribe, according to the minister. They were ambushed in a valley
when a large group of Turkana fired on police, leaving dozens dead
and many injured.
The Turkana and Samburu, both pastoralist groups, have frequently
engaged in tit-for-tat cattle rustling operations over many years.
Villages in the region are heavily fortified by residents, and it's
not unusual to see cattle herders armed with automatic rifles.
In the most recent incident, Turkana raided the Samburu last month
and took a large amount of cattle, according to the internal security
ministry.
The Kenyan government intervened and gave an ultimatum for the Turkana
to return the cattle last week, or it would respond with force. The
Turkana did not meet the deadline, prompting the police operation
that ended in tragedy.
Both Turkana and Samburu leaders have frequently asked for more
security in the region from the government. They say the police are
outmanned and outgunned.
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November 13, 2012 - 15:20 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - In the worst single incident for Kenyan police in
living memory, 38 officers were killed in northern Kenya over the
weekend by heavily armed cattle rustlers, according to injured police
reservists who were on the scene, CNN reports.
Local media reports put the number at between 37 and 42 dead. Internal
Security Minister Katoo Ole Metito would not give a total figure on
how many police officers had died.
The police officers were part of an operation to recover cattle
belonging to the Samburu tribe that had been stolen by the Turkana
tribe, according to the minister. They were ambushed in a valley
when a large group of Turkana fired on police, leaving dozens dead
and many injured.
The Turkana and Samburu, both pastoralist groups, have frequently
engaged in tit-for-tat cattle rustling operations over many years.
Villages in the region are heavily fortified by residents, and it's
not unusual to see cattle herders armed with automatic rifles.
In the most recent incident, Turkana raided the Samburu last month
and took a large amount of cattle, according to the internal security
ministry.
The Kenyan government intervened and gave an ultimatum for the Turkana
to return the cattle last week, or it would respond with force. The
Turkana did not meet the deadline, prompting the police operation
that ended in tragedy.
Both Turkana and Samburu leaders have frequently asked for more
security in the region from the government. They say the police are
outmanned and outgunned.
0