Gunmen Kill Seven People in Dawn Turkana School Ambush

Six students and a night guard were shot dead in Saturday dawn ambush on Lokichogio Mixed Secondary School in, Turkana County.

While confirming the attack, Turkana County Commissioner Seif Matata noted that one of the assailants was a student, who had earlier been suspended from the school. Matata said the ambush occurred between 3:30am and 4am.

"Several students were injured. We cannot confirm the number until we liaise with the hospital," Matata told journalists in Lodwar.

The said student, who Matata identified as Abraham hails from the Toposa tribe of South Sudan.

"The preliminary information we have is that this attack was carried out by a student of the school in the company of other unknown people,” he said.

“There was a student who comes from South Sudan and he was suspended from school because of indiscipline."

"He was heard telling fellow students that he is going to burn the school or he will come back and avenge because of the suspension,” the county chief said.

“Now what we are told is that early this morning he came with about three other people and killed the watchman. (They) proceeded to the boys' dormitory where they targeted particular students whom they thought were behind his suspension."

He said the gunmen shot students before proceeding to the girls' dormitory where they injured several other female students.

"So we are appealing to everybody to remain calm while the police do the investigation and apprehend the culprits," said Matata.

The injured were rushed to Lopiding Sub County Hospital for treatment, while others were referred to Kakuma Mission Hospital.