Ndudi Anyim
A Police operation in Lagdera, Garissa, Kenya, has resulted in the arrest of three Al -Shabaab militants in possession of large cache of weapons.
It was learnt that the suspects were transporting eight AK-47 rifles, 2,104 bullets, eight empty magazines and 20 litres of petrol along Baraki- Maalmin Road in Lagdera area when they were intercepted after a four hour chase.
Police termed the recovery a win in the war on terrorism and argued that the weapons were to be used in an undisclosed terror mission.
North Eastern Police boss, Rono Bunei, who spoke of the recovered arms said the weapons were not Kenyan because they have not been registered in the country.
While the three suspects are said to be Somalians, but had Kenyan identity cards, their names were given as Nur Hadadob, who was the driver, Jimale Griftu and Abdirizack Elwak.
“ Policemen who were patrolling the area spotted the salon car on Monday before the driver sped off prompting a chase, which took four hours to end with the recovery.
“ The area is near the Kenya-Somalia border and Dadaab which hosts thousands of refugees most of whom are from Somalia. The camps in Dadaab comprises four camps: Dagahaley, Ifo, Ifo 2 and Hagadera, ” he said.
The Police Chief said they are investigating further to establish the mission for the weapons.
He however said their intention was to cause a terror attack in Kenya but they had not known where and when.
“ These were transporting them for a terror-related mission here. We are on alert, ” he said.
Other officials said the weapons were probably headed to one of the refugee camps there before they could be used elsewhere on a terror mission.
Currently, there is an influx of aliens in the refugee camps some of whom could be Al-Shabaab operatives disguised as asylum seekers.
Police say the refugee camps are still used as logistical, transit, and facilitation centres for Al-Shabaab operatives, thus aiding the group to easily gain access into the country.
Security agencies say they found out that the perpetrators of the Westgate Mall terror attack and the Garissa University attack had been facilitated from Dadaab Refugee Camp.
Northern Kenya has been severally attacked 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.