Police in Tigania East, Meru County, have recovered more than 100 cows and five donkeys that had been stolen by armed bandits.

The bandits, reports say, had raided Kiambogo Village on Tuesday, August 19, and drove away with 145 cows and five donkeys.

After a report was made, the authorities assembled a combined patrol team of National Police Service (NPS) officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), National Police Reservists (NPR), the Special Operations Group (SOG), and the Kenya Police Service (KPS), who were immediately dispatched to pursue the suspects.

“The team encountered the bandits at Arow Dam, Gambela location, where a fierce exchange of fire ensued. The bandits were overpowered, abandoned the stolen animals, and fled,” the NPS reports.

In the end, a total of 145 cows and five donkeys were recovered and handed over to their rightful owners, even as the NPS insists the operation to flush out the fleeing bandits is still ongoing.

“The National Police Service commends the police officers for their commitment and the public for providing information that led to the successful recovery of the stolen animals,”