Three killed in Wajir fresh border dispute

What you need to know:

  • The three were killed by armed assailants suspected to be from the rival Garre clan at Ogaralle village in Tarbaj sub-county.
  • The dead were among five labourers who were clearing bushes on a on a 25 kilometre-road linking Wajir and Mandera counties.
  • The road under construction has been the centre of dispute for the last two weeks.

Three people were Wednesday morning killed in Wajir County in renewed clashes between rival clans over a boundary dispute.

The three, Aweys Ali, 35, Bishar Hassan, 40, and Nunow Ali, 50, from the Degodia clan, were killed by armed assailants suspected to be from the rival Garre clan at Ogaralle village in Tarbaj sub-county.

The dead were among five labourers who were clearing bushes on a on a 25 kilometre-road linking Wajir and Mandera counties when the assailants attacked.

Tarbaj OCPD Soita Mwanja said the three men were shot at a close range by their attackers believed to be from a rival clan opposed to the road project.

Bodies of the men were taken from the scene of the incident by elders who had come back from a peace mission in Mandera.

They were taken to the police station and later buried in accordance to Islamic practice.

A post-mortem conducted in Tarbaj hospital indicated that the three suffered gunshot wounds on the head, chest and stomach.

According to Wajir County Commissioner Naftali Mungatia who addressed the mourners, the government was aware of the dispute and sent elders on a peace mission to settle the dispute.

He said a combined security officers team were deployed after the attack in the area to pursue the criminals.

RETALIATORY ATTACKS

The government is now concern about possible retaliatory attacks which may result in a fresh bloody fighting between the communities who have been living harmoniously since a peace pact was signed a year ago.

“The national government is aware of today’s killing of three innocent people, we assure you that justice prevails but meanwhile maintain calm. Refrain from any attempt to revenge” said Mr Mungatia while addressing mourners.

He added that revenge attacks would only leave both sides at a loss.

He said Inspector General David Kimaiyo agreed to establish a police post at Burmayo Location to avert the current as well as future attacks.

Mr Mungatia also said the government would employ additional police reservists to maintain security along the border between the two counties.

ROAD IN DISPUTE

The road under construction has been the centre of dispute for the last two weeks with Wajir County government, which funded the contract, claiming it to be within its territory.

Wajir County Governor Ahmed Abdullahi said the border of the two counties is documented and his government in conjunction with Mandera County governor would engage the national government and the Department of Survey to define the boundaries of the two counties.

“The border between Mandera and Wajir is clear and the road we are constructing does not extend to Mandera” He said.

ANCESTRAL LAND

Members of the Garre community on Mandera side are accusing the Wajir County government of provocative moves by taking the road project five kilometres into their ancestral land in their county.

Early 2013, more than 60 people were killed and thousands displaced after their houses were torched in skirmishes which started in Mandera and spilled over to the neighbouring Wajir County.

The conflict lasted for six months before a peace deal was signed.