Ndudi Anyim
Security operatives have repelled an attempted attack by Al-Shabaab militants on a Police camp in Lafey, Mandera County, Kenya.
It was gathered that the gang had fired two Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) and fired several times into the Border Patrol Unit (BPU) camp in Sheikh Barrow area before they were repulsed.
Security Watch Africa reports that security officials in the camp fired back prompting the attackers to escape in the Sunday night incident.
Police authorities said no injury was reported in the attack. It is not clear how many of the attackers were at the site.
North Eastern Regional Police boss, Rono Bunei said: “ Security agents have been on alert following reports of a planned attack by the militants in the area. This comes two weeks after a similar attempt was made on a camp in Elram area, Elwak, Mandera County on March 10. ”
Officials said the gang had Tuesday night shot several times towards the local Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) camp prompting response from local teams.
“ Security agents said they were conducting an assessment in the area to establish if there was any casualty in regard to the Sunday night incident. Such attempts had become common targeting and provoking security agents. No injury was reported on the side of local security agents, ” Bunei said.
He urged for continued support from locals to tame the marauding gangs from causing more havoc in the area.
“ This is the latest of such incident to happen in the area in a series of others that target security agencies by ambush or setting bombs on the roads. Because of the proximity of the region to Somalia border, the militants have been crossing and setting bombs on the road to target security agents. They also roam in the area lecturing locals against embracing non-locals.
“ Special Forces are among personnel who have been sent to the vast area to hunt down the Al-Shabaab militants behind the trend, ” he said.
Reports has it that Northern Kenya has borne the brunt of the vice due to its strategic location with Somalia, a situation complicated by a porous border.
The militants have been targeting communication masts and government installations in Northern Kenya.
Also on the receiving end are civil servants and non-locals working in the expansive region, crippled the education sector and more so after the Teachers Service Commission recalled most of non-locals teachers working in the troubled region.