Missing police officer found alive after Wajir grenade attack

A crowd at Wajir County Referral Hospital where an Administration Police officer who went missing after their vehicle ran over a landmine at Konton on June 15, 2019, is receiving treatment. PHOTO | COURTESY

What you need to know:

  • He said security officers were still looking for the missing officer in Konton area.

  • It was not clear if the missing officer was abducted and taken to Somalia by the Al-Shabaab militants.

  • Seven officers died on Saturday after their vehicle run over an explosive between Kharof Harar and Konton centre.

An Administration Police officer who was reported missing after a vehicle they were traveling in was hit by an explosive in Konton area, has been found alive.

Wajir County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara said the officer was found at Qarsa area in Wajir East.

“We have found one of the two officers who went missing after the Saturday grenade attack, he is admitted at a Wajir hospital,” Mr Kibaara said.

He said security officers were still looking for the other missing colleague.

ABDUCTED

“We are still looking for the other officer, I hope the combined efforts of Kenya Defence Forces and the police will find him alive,” said.

It was not clear if the missing officer was abducted and taken to Somalia by the Al-Shabaab militants.

Seven officers died on Saturday after their vehicle run over an explosive between Kharof Harar and Konton centre.

Two others, who sustained serious injuries, were airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment on Saturday night.

“We have already buried the local officers according to Islam doctrine. Three other bodies were flown to Nairobi on Saturday,” said Mr Kibaara.

RAIDED

He, however, denied allegations that the affected officers were recently deployed in the area and did not understand the terrain.  

On Thursday, Konton centre was raided by suspected Al-Shabaab militants who were said to have kidnapped three National Police Reservists. 

The report further indicated that the Somalia-based militants made away with a motorcycle and a tuk-tuk from Konton.