Police: Mandera killers stole guns, bullets

Al-Shabaab militants who killed five police officers on Monday also stole three rifles and 180 rounds of ammunition.

Police headquarters on Tuesday released names of the slain officers and their movements hours before the deadly attack.

The officers left El Wak Station in the morning.

Their vehicle was driven by Constable Nicholas Koyo and their commander was Corporal Maurice Wafula.

In the vehicle were five other officers — constables Boniface Gichobi, Peter Makemba, Alex Njenga and Administration Police constables Hilary Kandie and Alibashir Hassan.

The officers proceeded to Kotulo Shopping Centre.

They were to escort a bus that had been there overnight.

Among the bus passengers were Constable James Mulei of GSU and Constable John Pelekech of El Wak Police.

The convoy left Kotulo in the morning and drove for about four kilometres.

Between Kotulo and Duse Repeater Station, the gunmen struck.

Among those killed was Const Koyo whose AK47 rifle with 60 rounds of ammunition were stolen.

The militants killed Const Makemba and Kandie and stole their two rifles with 120 bullets.

Const Mulei and Pelekech were also killed. Const Mulei was travelling home.

By the time the Mandera County Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss David Wangai and other senior officers arrived at the scene, the attackers had burnt the vehicle and fled.

Though police spokesman George Kinoti said a team was in pursuit of the attackers, it is believed the gunmen have already crossed into neighbouring Somalia.

Meanwhile, more security personnel have been sent to El-Wak to pursue the killers of the five policemen.

County Police boss Job Boronjo said military, regular, AP and police reservist personnel would comb the area this week.

“There are officers on ground and we are sending in more today. The killers may be hiding in the bush,” he said.

The police boss refuted reports that a prime suspect had been arrested, saying more information would be released to the public on Wednesday.

AMBULANCE ATTACKED

In a related story, a person was killed while three others sustained injuries on Monday evening when an ambulance was attacked in the border town of Hulugho, Garissa County.

North Eastern Regional Coordinator Mohamud Saleh said the driver of the ambulance died on the spot while three other people in the vehicle were injured when it hit an explosive.

Mr Saleh said terrorists had stepped up their activities in the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan.

“The vehicle hit an explosive but the damage to the ambulance is minimal,” he said. Governor Nathif Jama sent condolences to the family of the driver, identified as Abey Dubow Mohamed.

The body of the driver was taken to Garissa Town for burial.

Reported by Angira Zadock, Abdimalik Hajir and Manase Otsialo.