DCI Officer Killed, Police Car Stolen in Suspected Al-Shabaab Assault
A police officer from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) was tragically killed on Monday in what is believed to be a terrorist attack near the Kenya-Somalia border in Lafey, Mandera County.
The attack unfolded in broad daylight when assailants ambushed the officer, who was driving a four-wheel-drive police vehicle and fled with the vehicle.
Police reports state that the attackers discarded the officer’s body and took a passenger from the vehicle with them.
Authorities suspect the assailants had been waiting for the police vehicle to pass through the area before launching their assault.
The passenger from the police vehicle was found in nearby bushes, severely injured, and was rushed to Lafey Sub-County Referral Hospital for urgent medical attention.
In addition, several residents were injured in the crossfire and were also taken to the hospital for treatment.
The area where the attack occurred has been a hotspot for terrorist activity, with frequent assaults by armed groups.
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In response to the attack, a multi-agency security team was deployed to search for the attackers, though they are believed to have fled across the border into Somalia.
The officer’s body has been taken to a local morgue for examination by a government pathologist.
The area’s Member of Parliament, Mohamed Abdikheir, condemned the attack, describing it as “unfortunate.”
He expressed his condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the fallen officer and wished a speedy recovery to the injured passenger, Muhumed Bashir. Abdikheir also noted that he is working with security officials to improve safety in the area.
The Northeastern and Coastal regions of Kenya, due to their proximity to the Kenya-Somalia border, have been frequent targets for Al-Shabaab attacks.
A June report by the Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies (CHRIPS) revealed that 72 attacks occurred across five Northeastern and Coastal regions in 2023. Mandera alone was the site of 25 attacks, which resulted in 72 deaths, while Garissa saw 23 attacks, claiming 71 lives.
DCI Officer Killed, Police Car Stolen in Suspected Al-Shabaab Assault
