Police officers attached to Lodwar Station have revealed new details about the fracas that occurred at the station following a confrontation with Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers.
The incident has attracted nationwide attention online after videos surfaced showing police officers ordering four KDF officers to sit outside the station. Moments later, KDF troops stormed the station and demanded the release of their officers.
According to a follow-up report, Turkana Central Sub-County Police Commander (SCPC) Samuel Boit led an operation to locate the four KDF officers to establish what had transpired. At the time, it was reported that the KDF officers had allegedly disarmed and assaulted a police officer manning a roadblock.
According to the report, the officers found the KDF soldiers at Moi Garden in Lodwar seated under a tree and a driver behind the wheel of a water bowser truck.
The report claimed that the KDF officers were requested to report to the station to record statements about the incident.
"Their commander who was wearing a sergeant badge said that they were not going anywhere," read part of the report.
Further, the driver cocked his AK47 rifle, prompting the police officers to shoot in the air. The officers escorted them to the station to ascertain the claims.
According to the report, the driver declined to hand over the keys, citing that he left them inside the water bowser truck at Moi Garden.
Moments after arrival, KDF troops on board a land cruiser arrived at the station and cordoned the station in an operation led by Lieutenant Okelo.
Following the incident, SCPC Boit arrived at the station and held talks with Lieutenant Okelo who instructed his troops to get back to the vehicle for the situation to remain calm.
The four KDF officers who were arrested remained at the station but failed to provide their identities. They were booked as unknowns and placed in custody.
They will be charged with the offence of robbery with violence.
