In a dramatic confrontation yesterday, 30th March 2024, between National Police Service (NPS) officers from Loima and suspected bandits at Kangalita in Kalemnyang, three suspects were fatally wounded, including a notorious gang leader and his associates. The shootout, which occurred in the remote region of Lorugum, Turkana County, marks a significant victory for law enforcement in their ongoing efforts to combat crime and restore peace in the volatile North Rift Region.
The main target of the operation was identified as Simon Egielan Lopongorei, aged 37, a notorious bandit and gang leader with a long history of violent crimes. Egielan, who had three pending court cases for charges including robbery with violence, gang-rape, and threatening to kill, had been under investigation for various other violent offenses, including highway robberies, stock theft, and possession of illicit firearms. His elimination from the criminal landscape is expected to deal a significant blow to organized crime activities in the area.
Also among the deceased was Lokucha Ngeruk, also known as “Sharpshooter,” aged 39, a close associate and aide to Egielan. Ngeruk had been evading law enforcement for three years following the killing of a police officer at Kangalita and an ambush on the Lorugum Officer in Charge (OCS) on 28th December 2023, which resulted in actual bodily harm to the officer. The removal of Ngeruk from the criminal equation is anticipated to disrupt the network of criminal activities orchestrated by the deceased gang leader.
The third casualty, Tiya Logumo, aged 21, was identified as an accomplice to Egielan and Ngeruk. While Logumo’s role in the criminal operations remains under investigation, their demise alongside the other suspects underscores the decisive action taken by the NPS in dismantling criminal syndicates operating within Turkana County.
Recovering from the scene of the shootout was an AK 47 Rifle with a magazine containing three rounds of ammunition, accompanied by spent cartridges—a clear indication of the intensity of the exchange between law enforcement and the armed suspects. The bodies of the deceased were swiftly transported to Lodwar County Referral Hospital pending post-mortem examination as investigations led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Loima continue to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The successful operation would not have been possible without the collaboration and support of the local community, and the NPS extends its gratitude to members of the public for their continued cooperation in the ongoing government efforts to restore peace and normalcy in the “Dangerous and Disturbed Zones” within the North Rift Region. As the investigation progresses, authorities remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents in Turkana County and beyond.
