Al-Shabaab planning attack in Mandera county-Kenya Police

By Fauxile Kibet

NAIROBI: Kenyan police have issued an alert following reports that the Somalia based Al-Shabaab militants could be planning an attack on key security installations in the country’s north eastern county of Mandera.

The police said that there was credible information showing that the militants were gathering at El-Ade area on the Somalia side in preparation for a possible attack.

“The buildup has been evident in areas of Hola, Dura, Jidahaley, Juma and Iikabere,” Police Spokesman Charles Owino said in a statement. “The current movement by the militants towards our border is attributed to ongoing purge on their bases in Somalia by the AMISOM and allied forces.”

Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) killed 20 Al-Shabaab militants in an airstrike last Tuesday in the El-Adde which was the scene of a deadly Al-Shabaab attack two years ago claiming over 100 Kenyan forces.

Owino added that security agents had also identified a suspect in last week’s attack in Arabia area, Mandera County, which saw three non-local teachers killed.

Mr Owino said that the suspect was identified as Hassan Hodey, a Somali national from Damasa area.

The spokesman added that the militants had been converging close to the Kenyan border over the past two weeks.

Mr Owino asked the public, particularly the people living along the border, to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement by individuals or groups to the nearest security personnel.