Police in Mumias East have arrested seven people suspected to be members of a criminal gang that calls itself Jeshi Jinga or Fools’ Army. As if to confirm their criminal bent, one of them was arrested as he leisurely puffed nasoli (cannabis sativa).

Mumias East OCPD Dorice Chemoss said area residents who volunteered to assist police to track down and identify the gangsters, tipped off the police about the whereabouts of two members of the gang, they identified as Fadhili Mukhola and Imbuli.

After the police arrested two and upon interrogation, they led police to the hideouts of five other gang members. One of them was found and arrested as he smoked bhang (cannabis sativa) at his home during the day.

Among the arrested suspects is a 17-year-old student the OCPD said who had been suspended from school over an indiscipline.

The OCPD revealed that police are pursuing other members of the gang and revealed that a woman the criminals use as decoy and often poses as a pillion to bait unsuspecting boda (taxi motorcycles) riders was also arrested. When the riders stop to pick her up, the criminals pounce and rob them of motorcycles and other valuables, the officer said.

“Immediately the boda boda rider stops to pick her up, the other gang members emerge from their hideout in the darkness, attack the rider and flee with the motorbike,” the police boss said.

She revealed that the police recovered crude weapons in the homes of the arrested gangsters that included clubs, machetes, knives, slashers and metal rods with sharpened ends, spotlights that produce strong blinding light and black leather jackets.

Chemoss said the police suspect the gangsters wear black jackets at night when they pounce and terrorise victims.

Apart from the Jeshi Jinga, the OCPD said, the police have been informed of another criminal gang that specialises in stealing livestock.

“We were led to a cattle thief at Eluwasambi – a young man known as Fredrick Keya. His parents have confirmed that he is rarely at home during the day but always available in the dead of the night,” she narrated.

The OCPD advised parents to always take keen interest in the friends of their children and even take note of their change of behaviour. She warned that the police will continue with patrols and arrest those who attend disco matanga (funeral dances) as thy create opportunities for the gangsters to roam and commit crime.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Moses Wekesa