Advertisement

Gunmen shoot dead 5 in northeast Kenya

Friday June 23 2017
lwak

Mandera County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia. He said the current increase in attacks in Mandera could be due to killing of two Al-Shabaab commanders by Kenyan security agents. PHOTO | MANASE OTSIALO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By MANASE OTSIALO

Gunmen have shot and killed five people, including two police officers guarding a commercial bank, in northeast Kenya's on Friday.

Also killed in the morning attack in Elwak are three civilians, the Mandera South police chief Charles Chacha said.

Mr Chacha said the unknown attackers arrived at the bank in a Toyota Probox and opened fire, shooting indiscriminately.

Mandera County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia confirmed the 9.30am incident.

“A Toyota Probox without a number plate approached Equity Bank and the occupants started spraying the bank premises with bullets,” he said.

Mr Shisia said “a good number of civilians” around the bank were injured in the incident but he was yet to confirm the exact figure.

Advertisement

“The Probox sped off towards Elwak, Somalia, and our officers are pursuing it with the assistance of friendly forces in Somalia,” he said.

10km apart

The two Elwak border towns are 10 kilometres apart with people frequently crossing the Kenya-Somalia border.

“We are trying our best to intercept the vehicle with the help of Somalia forces but the motive of the attack is not known,” he said.

According to Mr Shisia, the increase in terror incidents in Mandera could be due to killing of two top commanders of Al-Shabaab from Elwak town.

“We have unconfirmed reports that these incidents are due to killing of their commanders in two different incidents by our security officers,” he said.

IED attack

In a separate incident, a vehicle in Qurqura, Mandera County, narrowly missed to hit roadside bomb.

The Toyata Hilux was heading to Mandera from Elwak and the improvised explosive devise went off just before the vehicle ran over it at 8.30am. 

Mr Shisia said the IED smashed the windows of the vehicle and the driver drove to Lafey Police Station where he reported the incident.

“We want those using that road to be careful and report any suspicious activity to security agents and avoid places with disturbance,” he said.

Mr Shisia said the new phenomena of attacking civilian vehicles was being investigated.

Related stories

Advertisement