Taxi driver shot dead in night police confrontation in Garissa

A taxi driver was reported shot dead on Tuesday morning after a confrontation involving police officers and armed individuals in the Modika area along Modika–Dadaab road in Garissa County.

The shooting of Adan Mohamed Hassan, 32, sparked protests in the area, with locals demanding justice.

According to police, the incident occurred at around 2:00 am when officers on patrol intercepted a Toyota Probox suspected of ferrying uncustomised goods.

The driver of the vehicle was arrested and was being interrogated when the situation escalated.

Garissa police commander John Nzioka said the incident is under probe.

He said they had invited the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to investigate the matter.

“We will give IPOA all the support they need to investigate this matter,” he said.

The locals claimed the victim was innocent and demanded action to ensure accountability.

Police said after a driver was stopped, a second Toyota Probox carrying about nine occupants approached the scene.

The group, reportedly armed with a rifle and machetes, attacked the officers, prompting them to fire warning shots in the air as they withdrew from the scene.

Investigators who visited the scene confirmed that Hassan had sustained a gunshot wound to the head and died at the scene.

The body was moved to Garissa County Referral Hospital Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The area has cases of smuggling of uncustomised goods from neighbouring Somalia.

Elsewhere, police in Marsabit County launched investigations into the fatal shooting of a 35-year-old man during a robbery incident at Merille market in Laisamis Sub-county.

According to police, the incident occurred at around 4:00 am on April 21, 2026.

The deceased, identified as Elius Iribae, had travelled from Nairobi in the company of another individual to purchase goats at the market.

Police said the pair had just alighted from a lorry at Merille market when a gunman armed with a rifle shot Iribae in the back. He collapsed and died on the spot due to excessive bleeding.

The attacker reportedly stole an unspecified amount of money during the incident. However, officers later recovered Sh298,300 in cash believed to be linked to the robbery, as well as a Tecno smartphone.

The body of the deceased was moved to Laisamis Sub-County Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The scene was visited by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Marsabit South, officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) based in Merille, and personnel from Merille Police Post.

Authorities are pursuing the armed suspect as investigations into the killing continue.