Rustlers arrested with stolen sheep

By William Gibore
 

Two rustlers were arrested in Kaptagat area in Laikipia County on Wednesday morning by Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) officers based in Ol Mutunyi. The two men in their late twenties suspected to be serial animal thieves known to have been terrorizing the residents were caught with 15 sheep. The animals are suspected to have been stolen from Kahuruko area in Sipili Division. 

Photo of recovered sheep (Photo By: Dennis Kipkirui/LRV)

The officers succeeded in nabbing them through intelligence reports. It said that the sheep were stolen on December last year with a calf while others date as late as April. They were found having slaughtered one and another is reported to have died. They were also caught in possession of bows and arrows which is suspected to have been used in the raid. One of the owners produced an arrow which was shot at him but missed during the raid .The arrow was similar to the one the rustlers were caught with.

Some of the owners have positively identified their stock while the rest are yet to. The suspects were taken to Kinamba police station waiting to be arraigned in Nyahururu law courts.

Animal theft is rampant in Laikipia County. It is only in October last year when some rustlers raided Marigat area in the neighboring Baringo County and stole a huge herd of cattle and shot one person. The same problem recently occurred where three Administration Police (AP) officers were fatally shot.