MANDERA, Kenya, Aug, 5 – Police in Mandera have heightened security after five police officers were left nursing serious injuries amid an ambush attack by suspected Al-Shabaab militants.
According to preliminary reports, the officers were on a routine patrol in Mandera South when the incident occurred.
“It happened today (Thursday) at Bamba Ola stretch along the B9 road between Wargadud and Elwak that a joint patrol security team was sprayed with bullets by suspected Shabaab militants,” reads a report filed at Elwak Police Station.
The officers consist of a multiagency team drawn from the regular police, Border Patrol Unit (BPU), Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU), and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The incident occurred on Thursday evening.
Poll e said one of their own had sustained a gunshot injury on the forehead and is in stable condition. He is being treated at Elwak Sub County Hospital.
“The other four officers sustained injuries as they jumped off their vehicles in efforts to respond to their attackers,” said police.
A police vehicle from El Wak station was damaged during the attack as one G3 rifle is also said to have been damaged in the fiery shootout. Also damaged was a lorry belonging to the Anti-Stock Theft Unit.
“The station vehicle registration number GKB 825, a Toyota Landcruiser had its rear screen shattered, its exhaust pipe damaged, chassis shot at and it had a bullet hole on the rear roof rails,” reads the statement.
Mandera has recorded at least four terror-related incidents in the last month including attacks on security camps, security patrols, and roadside explosives.
Security has since been heightened with the deployment of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers and General Service Unit (GSU) personnel.
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