Joseph Isangura
Three suspected armed robbers were shot dead late Saturday night after an exchange of gunfire with police in Bariadi Town, Simiyu Region, authorities have confirmed.
According to Simiyu Regional Police Commander Ms Edith Swebe, the incident occurred at about 2:30am on February 8 in the NMB area of Malambo Ward following a rapid response by officers from the Special Crime Prevention and Control Unit.
Ms Swebe said police acted on intelligence reports indicating that three men were attempting to break into the Simiyu Money Service building, a facility that handles financial transactions for mobile network operators and other financial institutions.
Acting on the tip-off, officers were dispatched to the scene to intercept the suspects. Upon arrival, the police unit found the individuals near the premises under suspicious circumstances and moved in to stop them.
“Officers responded to credible information that suspects were trying to break into the Simiyu Money Service facility,” Ms Swebe said. “When the police team reached the area and attempted to confront them, the suspects opened fire after realising they were being followed, which forced our officers to return fire in self-defence.”
A gun battle followed, during which all three suspects were seriously wounded. Police said the men were taken to hospital for emergency treatment but were pronounced dead while receiving care.
The RPC said a search conducted at the scene and on the suspects recovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with eight rounds of ammunition, believed to have been used during the confrontation. Investigators are continuing forensic examinations on the weapon as part of ongoing inquiries.
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Other items recovered from the suspects included 300 Kenyan shillings, one Egyptian five-pound note, and several travel tickets, including a ticket from Migori to Sirari and additional tickets from Sirari to Lamadi. Police believe the travel documents may help trace the suspects’ recent movements and possible cross-border links.
Ms Swebe said security agencies are analysing the recovered materials and coordinating with other law enforcement units to establish the identities of the deceased and determine whether they were connected to previous robbery incidents in the region.
She added that patrols and surveillance have been intensified across key commercial areas in Simiyu Region following the incident.
Police have urged members of the public to continue sharing information about suspected criminal activities, stressing that community cooperation remains essential in preventing armed robbery and protecting financial service centres and other high-risk facilities.
