Police have arrested four suspected gang members found in possession of several weapons in Mtwapa, Mombasa County.
In a statement released on Friday, the National Police Service revealed that officers from Mtwapa Police Station had recovered several weapons, including three pangas and a dagger, following a public tip-off.
The arrests followed a robbery incident in the coastal city where criminals were captured on CCTV assaulting and robbing pedestrians. It is, however, unconfirmed whether the arrest is connected to the robberies.
According to NPS, the gang was arrested at a hideout on the outskirts of Mtwapa Township in an intelligence-led operation targeting members of the 'Panga Boys' gang in the Labour–Mtomondoni area.
“The officers proceeded to a makeshift structure, believed to be a hideout for the notorious gang of muggers, where they successfully arrested four suspects,” part of the NPS statement reads.
The suspects are being held at Mtwapa Police Station pending their arraignment.
CCTV Footage of Gang Robbing Locals
The arrest of the suspects comes days after a viral CCTV footage emerged showing gang assaulting pedestrians in Nyali, Mombasa City.
In the footage, three gang members could be seen approaching pedestrians at night before snatching their belongings and assaulting them with machetes.
According to reports, the victims were also forced by the gang to transfer all money in their accounts to the gang.
The CCTV owner said that he heard a commotion outside his home. After checking the footage, he saw gang members harassing people before fleeing on a motorbike.
The police have since visited the scene to gather information for the ongoing investigation, and the search for the suspects is underway.
"For the next two to three days, I will be camping in Nyali to ensure that these boys are taken down. We will not allow [them] to come back. That incident is an isolated incident which happened and is subject to confirmations," Mombasa Police Commandant said.
