One person killed after Al-Shabaab ambush Mandera bound bus

MANDERA,Kenya, June 7 – Suspected Al-Shabaab militants Monday morning ambushed a Mandera bound bus killing one person and injuring 12 others in an attack between Olla and Sarman along the Mandera -Garissa Highway.

The militants are said to have laid an ambush before spraying the bus with bullets.

Witnesses have told Shahidi News that the militants attempted to stop the bus before the driver decided to speed off.

“They tried to stop the driver, he however sped of, it could have been much worse,” said one of the witnesses.

Despite the security norm where commuters have become accustomed to being chaperoned by a police escort, the bus did not have one.

Another bus meanwhile was forced to speed off in an attempt to save lives, the driver however lost control as it overturned several meters from the shooting scene leaving some passengers with injures.

“We have many casualties but so far 12 have been brought to a local hospital after the incident. They have multiple injuries,” said a senior police officer at the scene of the incident. 

The suspected militants meanwhile fled the area as police responded to the attack.

This is the latest in an increasing number of attacks targeting buses in the North Eastern county.

“We are pursuing them towards the Somalia-Kenya border where they escaped. They will be caught,” said North eastern regional police boss Rono Bunei.

Police have since launched an operation in the area, particularly around the common border with Somalia with Al-Shabaab militants said to be targetting commuter buses and communication masts in the area.

Police reports have revealed several Improvised Explosive Devices(IEDs) have been detonated along major roads in the county.

Area governor Ali Roba protested the increasing attacks in the area saying the county’s economy has borne the brunt of the attacks and might likely not recover if the national government does not take serious action to end the constant attacks targeting innocent civilians.