Isiolo residents told to surrender illegal firearms

Isiolo residents who are in possession of illegal firearms have been urged to surrender their weapons to the authorities or face dire consequences.

Eastern Regional Commissioner Isaiah Nakoru said there was no need for civilians to possess firearms as the government had deployed enough security personnel to protect the locals and their property.

He noted that the illegal firearms pose a threat to the national security hence the need to disarm civilians.

According to Nakoru, criminal elements have in the past used illegal firearms to carry out cattle raids and carry out their criminal activities.

He lauded the efforts by the locals in surrendering the firearms adding that five guns had been surrendered to the authorities in the last month.

Mr Nakoru who was speaking in Isiolo when he led members of Development  implementation  and  coordination  committee  in  an inspection tour of the Isiolo  International  Airport (IIA) also blamed the lack of marketing and misconceptions for the underutilization of the airport and called on residents to take advantage of the facility to transport their products like camel meat, miraa and flowers.