Police officers in Igembe ,Meru County have shot dead four suspected bandits and recovered six AK47 rifles along with 527 bullets.

A squalid camp believed to be run by criminals was the focus of the raid on Tuesday May 13 2025, which also resulted in the seizure of eight mobile phones.

The operation was part of a broader government effort to fight rising banditry in the region, which has seen an increase in attacks on local residents.

Police said they had received a tip-off about the bandits’ activities and launched the raid early Tuesday morning in Kubisera village, Igembe Sub-County.

The bandits, believed to be part of a notorious gang, fought back but were shot by officers during the confrontation. The guns and ammunition found are believed to have been used to terrorize the local community.
The operation comes as part of the government’s ongoing crackdown on banditry, which has been a major security challenge in the region.

This includes launching a specialized police unit and increasing patrols. In addition, the government has begun screening members of the National Police Reserve (NPR) to guarantee that they have received adequate training and are accountable.

In comparison to the same time last year, fewer cases of banditry were reported in early 2025, indicating that recent efforts have made progress.

Banditry-related deaths, for instance, decreased from 58 to 21, and livestock thefts also decreased.

However, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen noted that the war on banditry is still ongoing, with challenges such as illegal firearms, political interference, and difficult terrain.

The operation in Meru is part of Operation Maliza Uhalifu North Rift, a government initiative launched in February 2023, which targets nine counties affected by banditry.