In a harrowing incident, passengers aboard a matatu traveling from Garissa to Hulugho found themselves in a life-threatening situation as armed men attempted to rob them.

According to a police report documented under O/B number 32/09/10/2023, the terrifying episode unfolded when a group of three armed men parked a Toyota Probox on the side of the Garissa-Hulugho road near Bukuree Dam. They signaled the PSV (Public Service Vehicle) driver to halt, indicating their intention to rob the passengers.

However, the quick-thinking driver opted not to stop and instead accelerated the matatu to a high speed to evade the armed assailants. In retaliation, the armed men opened fire on the vehicle, causing panic among the passengers.

One of the bullets struck the matatu's rear wheel, forcing the driver to bring the vehicle to a stop. Fearing for their lives, the terrified passengers hastily disembarked from the matatu and fled the scene. Some passengers managed to make a distress call to officers from the nearby Iftin Police Station, located approximately 12 kilometers away.

Detectives from Iftin Police Station responded swiftly, rushing to Bukuree Dam. Upon arrival, they found that the armed men had fled, leaving behind the abandoned Toyota Probox. At the scene, investigators discovered a spent cartridge, believed to have been fired from an AK-47 rifle.

The cartridge was collected as evidence to aid in further investigation, while the Toyota Probox was impounded and taken to Garissa Police Station for examination.

To ascertain the identities of the armed assailants and uncover the motive behind the attack, DCI (Directorate of Criminal Investigations) detectives, along with the OCS (Officer in Charge of Station) of Iftin Police Station and his team, conducted fingerprint analysis on the vehicle and initiated a thorough inquiry into the incident.

This alarming occurrence is part of a growing trend of attacks in the North region, with counties such as Wajir, Mandera, and Garissa bearing the brunt of these incidents.

In response to the escalating violence, Interior CS (Cabinet Secretary) Kithure Kindiki pledged that the government would intensify efforts to restore order in the Northern and Coastal regions. He emphasized the commitment to invest in modern equipment to combat the criminal elements that have been terrorizing the region's residents.