Wajir reservists arrested in Garissa mistaken for Militia released
Police in Garissa have released police reservists who were mistaken for bandits after they were arrested with 19 magazines and 500 bullets, authorities said on Monday.
A communication dispatch acknowledged the error from their Police who declared the men armed and dangerous.
The four have been identified as members of the National Police Reserve based at the Kenya-Somalia border in Wajir County.
They were arrested at Nuno, Garissa County.
Police said they also recovered balaclavas, a ballistic helmet, a knife, a machete and several mobile phones from the four.
The men were in a white Toyota Probox when they were stopped by police.
On Sunday, after the news of the arrest spread out, efforts were being made to release the men on cash bail amid the probe.
Police Officials said they wanted to know why they were moving to Garissa County without informing the relevant authorities.
Police reservists personnel have been helpful in taming terrorism and al-Shabaab in the area.
Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera are prone to Al-
Shabaab attacks but in recent weeks, the activities have been drastically reduced following operations by the Kenya Defense
Forces, the police, and reservists who collaborate to block the militants from waging attacks in the region.
This comes amid heightened security following fears the terror group could be planning an attack after a long lull.
The border region has borne the brunt of repeated attacks from the militants who are at times aided by locals.
Somalia has not had a stable government after the fall of Siad Barre in 1991.
The area is near the Somalia border and the militants usually cross at will and stage attacks before escaping back.
Al-Shabaab terrorists have been attacking places in the region, especially in Mandera and Garissa counties after breaching security zones, which left dozens of civilians and security officials dead and wounded.
The terrorists have been planting explosives on the routes used by the security agencies.
Kenyan troops are in Somalia to pursue and suppress the activities of the terror group.