Police has rescued a 19-year-old man who was nailed to a tree on suspicion of stealing a radio in Kenya.
Collins Sambaya, from Chamasili village in Sabatia sub-county was injured by one Elvis Irime, who nailed both his palms to a tree on Friday, February 18.
North Izava location Chief Evans Endesha reported the matter to the police via a phone call. Upon visiting the scene, police found the young man in great pain.
“Upon seeing the police approaching the scene, the assailant suspect ran away and is still at large,” the police report reads in part.
Sambaya was rescued and rushed to Mbale County Referral Hospital where he is in stable condition.
A statement issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation, DCI, says police has launched manhunt for the suspect responsible for the inhuman act.
“In an incident that brought Sabatia’s, Izava village to a standstill, 19-year-old Collins Sambaya, was found secured on a tree using two roofing nails, that had been driven through each palm of his hands,” the statement read.
“The distraught villagers who couldn’t come to terms with what had befallen one of their own, watched in disbelief from a distance as officers rescued him and rushed him to hospital.
“Meanwhile, a manhunt for the suspects responsible for the inhuman act has been launched, with the area security team employing every available resource to apprehend the suspects.”
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The young man who was nailed to a tree in Kenya on Friday, February 18, for allegedly stealing a radio, is presently recovering at a local hospital.
Collins Sambaya,19, was rushed to Itando Mission of Hope and Health Care centre after residents were successfully able to free him from his predicament.
According to the victim’s grandfather, Henry, his family is still in shock following the incident.
While likening Sambaya’s ordeal to that of Jesus Christ, Henry maintained that his grandson is innocent and was wrongly accused.
He confirmed that his grandson was nailed to the tree by one Eric Irime and his younger brother who hail from the area.
“The incident occurred at around 2 pm but I only got wind of the situation at around 5pm. The suspects came to our home and tricked my grandson into following them into their household where they committed the act,” Henry told Citizen Digital.
“My grandson is innocent. A few days ago, the suspects took my grandson to a nearby police station where they reported him for allegedly stealing the said radio. Officers however freed him after establishing that there was no evidence to support the pair’s allegations.”
Sambaya’s family now wants police to act swiftly and bring the two suspects to book.
“Honestly speaking if the suspects were apprehended yesterday things would have been very different right now,” Henry said.
“If they do get caught, we would like the matter to be handled by police. I have heard rumours that they pair might have been spotted nearby but I am not sure. Local youths are however hot on their trails” he added.