A multi-agency security operation has successfully recovered 10 stolen cattle and repelled an armed bandit attack in Isiolo County following a coordinated pursuit that culminated in a fierce exchange of fire with the suspects.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 4, the National Police Service (NPS) said the operation was launched after suspected armed bandits raided a homestead in the Ndumuru area of Igembe North Sub-County on the night of Sunday, August 2, and made away with 10 head of cattle belonging to a local resident.

According to the NPS, the suspects fled towards the Isiolo-Ngaremara direction, prompting a swift response from security agencies after receiving actionable intelligence.

Officers drawn from Isiolo, Kangeta and Tigania East, working alongside rangers from the Nakupurat-Gotu Conservancy, quickly mobilised and pursued the attackers before intercepting them in the Shika Adabu area.

The police said the confrontation resulted in a gunfight that forced the suspects to abandon the stolen livestock and flee into the darkness.

“A fierce exchange of fire ensued. Outmanoeuvred by the tactical response of the security officers, the bandits fled into the darkness, abandoning all the stolen livestock,” the National Police Service said.

The recovered cattle were safely escorted to the Nakupurat Conservancy before being officially handed back to their rightful owner.

The service noted that security operations in the region have been intensified as authorities pursue the fleeing suspects and seek to prevent further bandit attacks.

“The National Police Service has intensified patrols and surveillance across the region to pursue the fleeing bandits, deter further banditry attacks, and guarantee the safety and security of residents and their property,” the statement added.

The NPS also urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by reporting suspicious activities through the nearest police station or its official reporting channels.

The successful recovery underscores ongoing efforts by security agencies to combat livestock theft and banditry, which continue to pose a significant security and economic challenge in parts of northern Kenya. Authorities have vowed to sustain operations until all those involved in the attack are apprehended.