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Two people including a police officer succumbed on Friday after a large group of people over 3,000 forcefully entered the Hillo Walikiti gold mining site in Marsabit.
According to a police report obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, the residents, after accessing the area began pelting objects including stones at the security officers manning the gold mine.
Sensing the situation was getting out of hand, the officers intervened and began expelling the rowdy group out of the gold mine forcing the group to retreat.
However, hardly an hour after successfully ejecting the residents from the site, the group came back armed with assorted crude weapons and guns.
They began shooting and pelting stones at police officers who equally attempted to drive them away but were overwhelmed by the attackers.
“The officers responded with fire but they were overpowered as they were attacked from all directions including their camps,” read part of the police report.
According to the police, two people were shot dead including an officer in the tragedy that left several other security officers nursing critical injuries.
The report further revealed the attackers also stole two G3 rifles loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition belonging to the deceased officer.
“The scene was visited by SCPC Moyale and DCI officers from Moyale. The scene was processed and documented,” read the police report.
“Bodies moved to Moyale sub-county mortuary awaiting postmortem. Progress report to follow.”
The Hillo gold mine was closed by the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki in March this year after several people died after the mine collapsed.