Security officers repulse Al-Shabaab militants in Lamu

One person was killed on Saturday and another injured after a vehicle carrying a patient from Somalia to a Kenyan hospital ran over an improvised explosive device planted by suspected Al-Shabaab militants on Lamu’s Kiunga-Somalia border.

Confirming the incident, Linda Boni Operation boss James ole Serian said the explosion blew the unregistered Mitsubishi vehicle at about 11:30am.

Mr Sereni security officers on the ground intervened quickly after the incident, exchanging fierce fire for about ten minutes with the militants who fled to the dense Boni Forest after they were outgunned.

“The vehicle was ferrying a patient from Somalia to Lamu. It was hit with an IED by suspected Al-Shabaab militants just two kilometers past Ishakani in Kiunga Division of Lamu East. Security officers are already on the ground and we are pursuing the attackers,” said Mr Serian.

Mr Serian said the previous hotspots that had been used by the Al-Shabaab terrorists had been successfully sealed off by security agencies conducting the Linda Boni Operation and as such the militants had now been forced to change their modus operandi.

He said the recent IED attack took place in a new location that has never before been attacked.

“We have successfully sealed all their normal routes they use to sneak into Kenya and conduct attacks. They are now trying to change tactics and also using new routes but we are dedicated and will ensure all possible routes are completely sealed,” said Mr Serian.

Police sources who talked to the Nation said the deceased, Mr Mohamed Shimai, is a Kenyan who intended to vie for an MCA position in the next year’s elections.

On August 6 this year, four General Service Unit (GSU) officers were injured during an attack by suspected Al-Shabaab militants who tried to force their way into the Basuba GSU camp in Lamu East.

Again, on August 3, security officers manning the Operation Linda Boni zones in Lamu East escaped death narrowly after their convoy also drove over an IED.

Two armoured personnel carriers (APCs) were headed to Mokowe when the incident happened between Milimani and Baure.

On July 14 this year, a suspected Al-Shabaab terrorist was killed while one police officer injured when a group of over 20 heavily armed Al-Shabaab militants attacked the Mangai Rapid Deployment Unit camp in Basuba Ward of Lamu East Sub-County.

One AK-47 rifle and three magazines full of ammunitions were recovered from the militants.

The Saturday incident comes days after Deputy President William Ruto toured the region on Monday and Tuesday and announced that the government had so far deployed more than 40 police vehicles and more than 10 APCs to boost security in Lamu.

Mr Ruto also said at least 1,500 military and police personnel have also been deployed in various parts of Lamu County to ensure citizens and property were protected.

Dailynation