North Eastern Regional Commissioner John Otieno has ordered the immediate deployment of armed security officers to Umu-Salaama Girls Secondary in Garissa town following last night’s fatal attack on one of the school’s night watchmen.
During the incident, the gang armed with crude weapons ambushed the two watchmen who were napping in one of the classroom corridors, Ali Dahir Noor, killing him on the spot. Hussein Farah, 59, was rushed and briefly admitted to the Garissa County referral hospital, where he was treated and discharged.
The deployment follows a growing concern of armed gangs targeting learning institutions, the latest being Iftin Girls Secondary School, where a gang of about 10 individuals attacked the institution, killing the watchman in the process.
Addressing the press after touring the institution, Otieno, who was accompanied by his regional security team together with the county team, termed the incident unfortunate and of concern to the security agencies in the region.
“Going forward, all other secondary schools in Garissa town will also receive armed officers as the government moves to beef up security in learning institutions in the area and the region at large,” Otieno said.
“This is a very serious and unfortunate incident. We have advised the institutions on how to enhance their security but in the meantime, we are deploying armed security personnel in this school beginning now on a 24-hour basis,” Otieno said.
He said that the government will not take chances in safeguarding the lives and property of the residents across the region.
“We cannot allow criminals to easily gain access to learning institutions or any other business within this town and the region,” he added.
The regional commissioner said that there is a nexus between crimes in Garissa town and neighbouring Madogo township, Tana River County, adding that both the county security teams will collaborate to get rid of these criminal gangs.
Omar Noor, brother to the deceased, said that the family was devastated on the unfortunate death of their kin and urged the relevant security agencies to hasten their investigations and ensure the perpetrators of the heinous crime are brought to book.
He said that the security agencies have all the evidence, including CCTV footage, that we believe will assist them in tracking and arresting the gang.
“We have left everything to the police. Our appeal is that those behind the killing of our kin are arrested and charged accordingly,” Noor said.
“The deceased was a not only a bread winner to his family of 8 but a support pillar to the extended family. You can imagine the burden left behind by his demise,” he added.
The body of the deceased was removed by the police to the Garissa referral hospital for postpartum. It was later released to the family for burial this afternoon in accordance to Islamic rites at a Muslim cemetery in Garissa town.
By Jacob Songok