One militant killed as security forces foil attack in Mandera
A police officer patrols Mandera town on December 3, 2014. Security officers drawn from Kenya Police and Kenya Defence Forces foiled an attack in Mandera on December 26, 2015 when they ambushed a group of militants who were planting explosive devices near the scene of last week's bus attack. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- KDF and Kenya Police officers were on patrol in Garsesala within the Dabacity town when they spotted the suspects planting the IEDs on the road.
- Last week, two people were killed and three others injured when suspected Al-Shabaab militants attacked a bus and a lorry between Dabacity and Borehole II.
Security forces foiled a suspected Al Shabaab attack on Saturday afternoon after they ambushed militants who were planting explosive devices in Mandera near the scene where Muslim passengers shielded Christians from an attack last week.
Kenya Defence Forces and Kenya Police officers were on patrol in Garsesala within the Dabacity town when they spotted the suspects planting the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on the road.
Speaking to the Nation on the Phone, Mandera County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia said the suspected militants panicked when they saw the security forces and in process detonated an IED which killed one of them instantly.
“The patrol team led by Mandera Central OCPD, AP commander, Rural Border Patrol Unit commander, the DCIO and KDF commander spotted a group of suspects on the road leading to Garsesala Dam. On seeing the security officers, they panicked leading to the death of one suspect. Several others fled with injuries,” Mr Shisia said.
Mr Shisia said the militants might have targeted the spot since KDF officers from Elwak camp fetch water from Garsesala Dam.
“The area has been under police surveillance since the bus attack. The body of the suspect is at Elwak Hospital mortuary,” he said.
MANDERA BUS ATTACK
Last week, two people were killed and three others injured when suspected Al-Shabaab militants attacked a bus and a lorry between Dabacity and Borehole II.
However, a heroic move by Muslim passengers in the bus saved about 60 passengers from the attack.
Mr Shukri Farah, the bus driver, confirmed that some Muslims in the bus gave their clothes to non-Muslims when three militants stopped the bus.
The Mandera county commissioner called on members of the public to cooperate with security officers to help win war against terror.
He said security has been beefed up in the region while security teams are tracking the suspects.
Mandera Governor Ali Roba had last week said intelligence reports from local pastoralist communities indicate that more than 200 Al-Shabaab militants had crossed into Kotulo from Somalia in the past three weeks.
He said there was need for security personnel to launch an operation and comb the bushes to track down the suspects.
According to local pastoralists, Mr Roba said, Al-Shabaab cells crossed to Kenya in groups of six to 15 and that the biggest group seen in the villages comprised of 30 fighters.
“They (Al-Shabaab) have infiltrated the villages giving radicalized teachings in the past three weeks.
“There has, however, been minimal or no engagement on foot by security personnel apart from road patrol yet Al-Shabaab operate off-road on foot,” Mr Roba said.
