GUNMEN KILL TWO PEOPLE IN BOTCHED ROBBERY

THREE men, believed to be bandits, shot and killed an armed escort and a bystander who allegedly hurled stones at them as they commandeered a company car carrying cash to the bank here yesterday.


The Regional Police Commander, Mr Zelothe Stephen, confirmed the incident which occurred at the Nyanza Bottling Company Limited (NBCL) in the Nyakato industrial area. It was the second robbery at the soft drinks factory in roughly two years.

The Managing Director, Mr Christopher Gachuma, explained to reporters at the factory yesterday that three bandits raided his company at around 1:00 p.m. when a company owned Toyota Mark II with registration number T 410 AQF was sending 17m/- in cash and cheques to the bank.

He named the deceased as company security guard, Eustuce Magori (58), and another person believed to be a job seeker who allegedly hurled stones at the bandits. His name could not be immediately established.

The bandits, according to Gachuma, hijacked the car as the driver, Juma Suleyman, waited to drive onto the Musoma-Mwanza Highway from the company. They opened the driver's door and kicked him out before ordering two cashiers, Angelina Yageti and Grace Minja, to get out.

However, they ordered the armed escort to remain in the car before they shot and killed the job seeker, who was allegedly hurling stones at them. The bandits then drove away with the security guard.

Mr Gachuma said he quickly reached for his gun too and shot at the car's wheels in vein. He had no other alternative but to call the police, he said.

However, before police officers arrived, the overspeeding car rammed into a commuter bus popularly known as 'Kipanya'. Both vehicles ended into a roadside trench where the bandits decided to shoot and kill the security guard before they disappeared into the bush.

They could not make away with any of the cash and cheques kept in the boot because the keys were left behind with the cashiers they ordered out.

Mr Stephen said police officers had mounted a massive manhunt and promised to give more details today. The condition of the passengers in the commuter bus was also not immediately known.
SOURCE: DAILY NEWS