Two people were killed in cold at Ituti village in Khwisero Sub County and body parts mutilated.Locals suspect that they might have been killed by members of an outlawed criminal gang that calls itself 42 brothers that has been terrorising locals of Butere, Khwisero and Mumias town.
The two, Paul Odera and Meleti Owade were found by the roadside murdered in a similar manner and their bodies mutilated.
According to George Wesonga, an eyewitness, said they found the bodies by the roadside saying they might have killed elsewhere and then dumped near their homes. Wesonga said their heads had been split into two by a sharp object like an axe, their genitals and eyes ripped out.
“They died a painful death as a result of excessive bleeding from injuries that was afflicted to them.”“We are living in fear as some of us have been warned of dire consequences by suspected members of the outlawed gang. We will continue pressuring that police to arrest those involved in a bid to face prosecution,” said Wesonga.
He claimed that the attackers were notorious criminals who were well known to the police since they(locals) give information to the authorities but instead police reveal their identities to the members of 42 brothers who in turn attack them in a revenge mission.
“We have recorded many statements with the police but they have ignored them and instead we are attacked. We suspect the police are working in cohort with the criminals and that’s why no action is taken after giving information to them,” said Wesonga.
An elder who sought anonymity said that criminal activities for the last two months have increased in the area, saying whenever they alert the police of those they suspect to be members of 42 brothers, they are victimized by the gang the same day they gave out the confidential information.
“By December last year, a total of 14 people had been killed in Khwisero and Butere Sub Counties in a span of three months. Police set free suspects who were connected to the killings and came back to haunt us,” said the elder.
Khwisero Deputy County Commissioner, Ngeleyo Lotulia, confirmed the incident saying they have arrested two people who are suspected to be among the gang that killed the two.
“We have two suspects in police custody namely Peter Oketch and Charles Osore who are helping us with investigations to know why the two were murdered. More arrests are to be made in connection to the murder,” said Lotulia.Mr Lotulia denie