THREE people were arrested in Isiolo yesterday with an M6 rifle and nine bullets a few kilometres from the Isiolo police station. The police locked up the suspects at Isiolo police station where they are assisting with investigations before they are arraigned in court.

Criminal Investigations Department boss Samuel Tobino said they had intensified the search for the suspects for three days but were only able to arrest them after a tip-off by wananchi.

One of them comes from Marsabit while the others are from Isiolo town. Tobino said the suspects are part of a gang that has terrorised people in the town, robbing shops, houses and offices in the last few months.

Two weeks ago, police arrested a suspected gunrunner Abdi Ali at Safi estate in Isiolo with a pistol. The suspect is providing information to the police to recover the illegal arms.

Isiolo police boss Daniel Kamanza said the criminals behind the racket will be arrested and prosecuted. He said the suspects are helping police with investigations to curb arms smuggling.

Guns from war-torn Somalia are smuggled into Kenya through Mandera, Diff in Wajir county and Doble in Garrisa. From Ethiopia the arms are smuggled through Moyale.