Robbers who attempted to carjack a taxi have been arrested courtesy of alert bodaboda riders in Matungulu, Machakos County
The charged riders saved a taxi driver’s life after being kidnapped by goons along Nairobi-Kangundo road in Malaa on Wednesday.
James Nyegenye, Matungulu assistant county commissioner confirmed the happening saying the survivor was drugged by the criminals in the botched robbery.
Nyegenye said the gang of four, three men and a woman unsuccessfully attempted to steal the taxi operator’s car before they were intercepted by the bodaboda riders.
He said the thugs had hired the taxi from Nairobi pretending to be on a land-buying mission in Matungulu Sub-county.
“They had boarded a taxi claiming that they were headed to view land in Matungulu only to drug the vehicle’s driver and tired him on a tree at Muting’a village,” Nyegenye said.
Nyegenye said the bodaboda operators were alerted by a resident, member of the Nyumba Kumi initiative in the area.
“The man signaled the bodaboda operators after he discovered the victim tied on a tree, he saw the thugs speeding off,” Nyegenye said.
The gang was intercepted and overpowered by a mob after they attempted to escape.
They were whisked by police officers after they were cornered and thoroughly beaten by the agitated locals.
The taxi operator was identified as J.M Munyua.
The thugs together with their victim were rushed to Kangundo Level 4 Hospital.
The four were later locked up at KBC police station.