Two police officers killed in Al-Shabaab attack in Mandera

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Two police officers were killed and several others injured on December 27, 2015 as they were headed to Elwak Town from Lafey Police Station in Mandera County. IMAGE | GOOGLE MAP

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Two police officers were on Sunday killed and several others injured in an Al-Shabaab attack on a police vehicle in Mandera County.

Mandera Deputy County Commissioner Elvis Korir said the militants attacked the police vehicle between Alungo and El Wak Town.

Speaking to the Nation on the phone, Mr Korir said the vehicle was headed to El Wak Town from Lafey Police Station at around 10:30am.

“Two officers are dead and the injured are admitted at Elwak District Hospital. Security officers are pursuing the attackers who are believed to be hiding in the bushes," said the deputy commissioner Mr Korir.

Mandera County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia blamed the success of the attack on poor travel arrangement by security officers.

"The attack happened when six officers were escorting the Fino Police Station OCS to Takaba through Elwak. We cannot have six officers going through the area because it has been marked as a hot spot for quite some time. Similar mistakes led to the loss of a military officer and others who have been injured last month at the same sport," Mr Shisia said.

The attack happened near the area where a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer was killed and two others injured after they were ambushed by militants as they drove towards Mandera two weeks ago.

The area is close to the Kenya-Somalia border making it easy for attackers to slip back to the neighbouring country after staging attacks or planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

SATURDAY'S FOILED ATTACK

On Saturday, a suspected militant was killed and three others injured after an IED they were planting on the road exploded after they were ambushed by security officers on patrol.

Kenya Defence Forces and Kenya Police officers were on patrol in Garsesala within the Dabacity town when they spotted the suspects planting the IEDs near the scene where Muslim passengers shielded Christians from an attack last week.

Mandera County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia, on Saturday, said the suspected militants detonated the IEDs killing 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,” he said.

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