Isiolo, Kenya| The wave of insecurity sweeping across Isiolo County has once again come into sharp focus following a harrowing attack in the volatile Biliqo Marara area, where a 41-year-old local elder, Abdimajid Ali Hussein, was shot and critically injured by armed cattle rustlers.
The incident has reignited public outrage and amplified calls for urgent security reforms in a region long plagued by banditry.
According to Bashir Duba, the area’s assistant chief, Hussein was ambushed by a group of eight gun-wielding bandits while trying to protect his son and defend his livestock from theft.
The confrontation turned violent, leaving Hussein with serious gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Isiolo Referral Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment in critical condition.
The attack is the latest in a series of brazen livestock raids that have left local communities feeling helpless, unsafe, and abandoned by security forces.
Residents say the Biliqo Marara incident is far from isolated and reflects a broader pattern of escalating violence and lawlessness that now extends to areas near Isiolo town, including previously considered safe zones such as the Barrier area.
Family members and community leaders have come forward to express deep concern over the deteriorating state of security.
The Hussein family, still mourning a tragedy from the previous year, recounted the killing of Yussuf Hassan Ali, a close relative who was shot dead by suspected rustlers near Barrier. The slain man left behind two young daughters.
One family member, posting on Facebook under the name Early Barchan, offered a deeply personal and emotional account of their experience.
“My family has suffered unimaginable pain,” he began. “A few months ago, my dear brother, Yussuf Hassan Ali (Goroth), was brutally taken from us by bandits at Barrier in Isiolo town. He was young and full of life, with two beautiful baby girls to take care of. And justice? It never came.”
He went on to share the renewed anguish the family is now facing. “Now, once again, my uncle, Abdimajid Ali Hussein, has been shot by these same heartless criminals.”
“He survived, but he’s in a critical condition at Isiolo County Referral Hospital. We thank God for his life, but we are angry, we are grieving, and we are tired.” He added.
The post concluded with a plea for action and accountability. “How many more lives must be lost before something is actually done? How many more families must mourn in silence? We are not just asking for sympathy — we are demanding justice, protection, and accountability. The blood of our loved ones cries out. Enough is enough.”
Salat Tadicha, a respected local activist, echoed these sentiments, condemning what he described as systemic failures by law enforcement agencies, accusing them of inaction and negligence.
“The repeated loss of lives and livestock in this region shows a troubling trend. The government must overhaul the current security framework. People are dying, and nothing seems to change,” he stated.
In a rare moment of hope, local herders and residents managed to track and recover the stolen goats, showcasing the resilience and determination of the community to stand up against criminal elements — even in the absence of sufficient government support.
This latest episode comes just days after similar incidents were reported in the region, prompting national conversations about the effectiveness of current security operations.
A recent ICBNews article titled “Bandit Raid in Isiolo’s Biliqo Marara Sparks Outcry Over Security Operations’ Effectiveness“ examined the increasing boldness of cattle rustlers and the glaring gaps in state response mechanisms.
Despite multiple pleas from affected families and activists, security interventions remain patchy, delayed, and largely reactive, often arriving long after the bandits have vanished into the wilderness.
With pressure mounting from all sides, residents of Isiolo are demanding a comprehensive and sustained security response, one that not only brings perpetrators to justice but also restores confidence among communities who feel forgotten by the state.
As Abdimajid Ali Hussein continues his fight for survival in hospital, his story is quickly becoming a symbol of a larger crisis — a cry for help from a region caught in the crossfire of historical neglect, armed banditry, and institutional inertia.
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