Police in Kilifi have arrested four suspected members of the outlawed “Panga
Boys” gang during an intelligence-led operation in Mtwapa Township.
The Thursday evening raid, carried out at around
7pm, was led by the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) of Mtwapa Police Station.
Acting on intelligence, officers targeted a makeshift structure in the
Labour–Mtomondoni area, believed to be a hideout for the group linked to
violent muggings in the region.
During the operation, four suspects were
apprehended.
Officers also recovered several crude weapons, including three pangas and a
small slasher, which were secured as exhibits.
The suspects were later escorted to Mtwapa
Police Station, where they remain in custody pending arraignment.
Police said the arrests are part of an ongoing crackdown on organised gangs
that continue to threaten public safety in coastal towns.
“This operation underscores the commitment of
the National Police Service to dismantling organised gangs,” NPS said in a
statement, adding that intelligence-led policing remains critical in combating
criminal groups.
The latest arrests come just weeks after two
other suspected members of the same gang were arrested in Mjambere, Mombasa. In
that incident, reported on August 7, police officers responded to a tip-off
about armed men roaming the area.
Two suspects were found wielding machetes and were promptly arrested.
Authorities say the arrests point to both a
surge in gang-related crime and the dedication of police officers to restore
security.
Members of the public have been urged to cooperate with security agencies by reporting any suspicious activity either at police stations, through the toll-free hotlines, or via official social media channels.
