Garissa: Masked Gang’s Reign Ends as Woman Linked to Armed Robbery Arrested, Gun Recovered
- Police in Garissa have arrested 37-year-old Mumeni Nguma, suspected of being part of a gang behind a series of violent robberies
- Detectives said the victim was ambushed by three masked assailants armed with an AK-47, a pistol, and a wooden club, before being knocked unconscious and robbed
- Nguma was tracked to Madogo and, during interrogation, led officers to her Bula Kartasi residence, where police recovered a trove of evidence
- The DCI said the seized firearm could link Nguma to other unsolved armed robberies in Garissa as officers pursue her accomplices, who remain at large
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
A 37-year-old woman believed to be part of a gang behind a string of violent robberies in Garissa has been arrested.
Source: Facebook
The latest development brings the police a step closer to dismantling the feared criminal network.
How did Garissa gang get on police radar?
The suspect, identified as Mumeni Nguma, was tracked down by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives after a brazen Tuesday, August 5 attack on a licensed firearm holder in Bulla Buris.
According to police, the victim was ambushed while walking home from evening prayers at a mosque.
In the terrifying ordeal, three masked assailants confronted the man, wielding an AK-47 rifle, another brandishing a pistol, while the third carried a heavy wooden club.
The gang struck with precision and brutality, with the victim receiving a vicious blow to the head that knocked him unconscious.
When he regained consciousness, his Glock 17 pistol and an undisclosed amount of cash were missing.
How did DCI narrow down on Nguma?
Following the attack, investigators moved quickly, piecing together witness accounts, forensic leads, and intelligence gathered from the ground.
Their work led them to Madogo, where Nguma was cornered and taken into custody.
It was during interrogation that the suspect cooperated and guided officers to her residence in Bula Kartasi.
A search of the house uncovered items directly linked to the robbery and potentially to other crimes.
"Cornered and under pressure, she guided officers to her house in Bula Kartasi," DCI reported in a statement.
What did DCI recover in Nguma's residence?
Among the recovered evidence was the stolen Glock 17 pistol, still loaded with 17 live rounds.
Officers also found a pistol holster, a military smoke jacket, and a belt matching the colours of security service uniforms.
Eleven passports belonging to different individuals were also seized, raising questions about possible links to identity theft or human trafficking.
Source: UGC
DCI investigators said the recovery of the firearm is a major breakthrough, as it not only ties the suspect to the August 5 robbery but could also connect her to other unsolved armed incidents in Garissa and surrounding areas.
Nguma is now in police custody and undergoing processing ahead of her arraignment as detectives intensify their search for her alleged accomplices, who remain on the run.
"The suspect is now in custody, undergoing processing, pending arraignment, as officers close in on the rest of the gang still on the run," DCI added.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
