Bomb kills five officers at Liboi border town

A map of Liboi in Garissa County. GRAPHIC | GOOGLE MAPS

What you need to know:

  • The attack happened about 9am at Harar in Liboi, a few meters from the Kenya-Somalia border.
  • Kenyan security officials have been on high alert over possible attacks during the holy month of Ramadhan.

Five security officers were killed yesterday in Liboi when their vehicle ran over a suspected improvised explosive device.

Dadaab Deputy County Commissioner Harun Kamau said three others were critically injured in the attack involving GSU officers patrolling the border area.

“There was an attack this morning targeting officers on normal patrol. Unfortunately, we lost five officers while three others were injured,” he said on phone.

He added that efforts were underway to airlift the injured officers to Nairobi for treatment.

The Dadaab administrator said security reinforcement had been sent to the area to pursue suspected Al-Shabaab terrorists.

SECURITY MATTERS

The attack occurred at 9am at Harhar, the place where Kenya security officials and local leaders met with their counterparts from Dobley, Somalia, last Thursday to discuss security matters.

The leaders also assessed the situation of Kenyans who had crossed the border to protest the alleged disappearance of religious leaders and youths.

“Kenya is our friend; we have a common enemy that we must fight together. We must strive to work together to achieve the aspirations of our people,” said Dobley District Commissioner Siyad Mohamed Hassan.

Kenyan security officials have been on high alert over possible attacks during the holy month of Ramadhan, with intelligence reports indicating that militants could scale up their activities.

POROUS BORDER

Attacks by Somali-based Al-Shabab have been on the rise at the porous border area.

Recently, during an Iftar (evening meal during Ramadhan) at a Garissa hotel, Northeastern Regional Commissioner Mohamud Saleh told residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious character to security agencies.

Mr Saleh said the success made so far in suppressing Al-Shabaab was due to information volunteered by the public.

“We are on high alert and are ready to deal with anyone interfering with our peaceful environment. We are aware they are planning something during Ramadhan but we are alert. We also want reports on suspicious people,” he told Muslims at the Garissa hotel.