NEP RC orders deployment of armed security officers to secondary schools

North Eastern Regional Commissioner John Otieno speaking to the press at Umu-salama girls secondary school.  He is flanked by top security officials.

North Eastern Regional Commissioner John Otieno has ordered  immediate deployment of armed security officers to the Umu-Salaama girls secondary in Garissa town following Thursday  night’s fatal attack on one the school’s night watchman.

During the incident, the criminals whose number was established killed Ali Dahir Noor, 56 and seriously injured Hussein Farah, 60  also a night guard.

He was rushed and admitted at the Garissa county referral hospital where he was treated and discharged.

Speaking when he led the regional and county security team to the institution Otieno said that all other secondary school will also receive armed officers as the government moves to beef up security learning institutions in Garissa and the region at large.

“We are deploying armed security personnel in this school beginning now on 24 hour basis . As they make the necessary security adjustment that we have so far advice,” he said.

The deployment follows growing concern of armed gangs  targeting learning institutions.

The most recent incident happened in September last year at Iftin Girls secondary school when a gang of about 10 individuals armed with crude weapons broke into the school compound, confronted the watchmen killing him in the process.

The RC who was accompanied by the regional and county security teams said that going forward, the regional and county security will not take chances in safeguarding the lives and property of the residents.

“We cannot allow criminals to easily gain access to learning institutions or any other business within his town and the region. We have in the past been able to enhance security in this town and this is a very unfortunate incident,” said the RC.

The RC said that there is nexus between crimes in Garissa town and neighboring Madogo town in Tana river county adding that going forward both county security teams will collaborate to week out the criminal gangs.

“We will do whatever it take to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to book. The two county security teams will engage to make sure that they deal with the situations that take place in the neighboring towns of Garissa and Madogo,”  he said.

Speaking to the press, Omar Noor, brother to the deceased said they were devastated as a family and called on the investigative agencies to Fastrack their investigations into the incident.

“The deceased was bread winner to his family of 8. Yu can imagine the burden left behind.  All we want is justice.  The security have all the evidence including CCTV footage that we believe will assist them in tracking and arresting the criminals,”  he said.

The deceased was later buried at a Muslim cemetry in Garissa after  a postmodern was conducted on the body.