Three men killed in shootout in land dispute on Tana River

Additional security forces have been deployed to Bura village in Tana River County in response to a tragic incident related to a land dispute.

On September 17, three men – Iddi Ali Aliye, 34, Mahamud Balagha Soye, 70, and Faraj Dibho Juma, 20 – were shot dead in an attack by about 20 armed assailants.

The attackers opened fire and then disposed of the bodies along the Kiembeni village section of the Bura-Hola highway, prompting police to step up security measures in the area.

Ten cartridge cases, four live cartridges (all 7.62 mm caliber) and a magazine cover for an AK47 rifle were seized at the crime scene.

The bodies were transferred to the Hola County Referral Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Police said they have since increased patrols in the area while they investigate the attack to arrest the perpetrators.

One resident said he had been threatened by his neighbors since they moved to the area.

The victims were settlers in the area who had been displaced by the floods.

“The district government told us to settle here during the floods, but our neighbours claim this is their grazing land and have vowed to wipe us out,” said a local man.

He said the community had appealed to security authorities for help to no avail while community members continued to be killed by their neighbours.

The man warned that complacency in handling the issue would plunge the region into chaos that would be difficult to control.

There are fears that there will be further attacks or retaliatory strikes.

As a result of the violence, more than five people were killed in less than a week.

Tana River County Commissioner David Koskei said all efforts would be made to bring perpetrators to justice and warned that murder cases would not be allowed to be tried in mock courts.

“Anyone who kills someone must face the law. The affected communities must hand over the perpetrators to us or they will turn themselves in,” he said.

He added that additional security personnel had been deployed to the area to apprehend the gang behind the attacks amid tensions.