Police officers repulse Shabaab attack leaving four injured

What you need to know:

  • Police sources on the ground said that the militants ambushed the camp at around 5.30pm and started shooting randomly.
  • On August 1 this year, an administration police officer and a NYS excavator machine operator were injured when their vehicle ran over an IED along the Usalama Road in Lamu East.

Four police officers were injured during an attack by suspected Al-Shabaab militants who tried to force their way into the Basuba General Service Unit (GSU) camp in Lamu East on Saturday evening.

Police sources on the ground said that the militants ambushed the camp at around 5.30pm and started shooting randomly.

An exchange of fierce fire ensued and lasted for 30 minutes before the militants were overpowered and fled to the dense Boni forest.

“It is true. There was an attack by suspected Al-Shabaab militants to a GSU camp at Basuba in Lamu East at around 5.30pm. Four of our colleagues were injured but the militants were repulsed,” said the police source.

Lamu County Commissioner Mr Joseph Kanyiri confirmed the attack on the GSU camp, but said that Linda Boni Operation Director James ole Serian was better placed to offer detailed information.

“It is true. There was an attempted attack at the camp this evening but I have no details. You can get details from the Linda Boni Operation Director Mr Serian. He is the one in charge of that side.”

Efforts to reach Mr Serian for comments were futile since he was unreachable on phone.

The incident comes just three days after security officers manning the Operation Linda Boni zones in Lamu East escaped death after their convoy missed an improvised explosive device (IED), which was believed to have been planted in their path by Al-Shabaab militants.

Two armoured personnel carriers (APCs) were headed to Mokowe when the incident happened between Milimani and Baure on Wednesday morning.

On August 1 this year, an administration police officer and a NYS excavator machine operator were injured when their vehicle ran over an IED along the Usalama Road in Lamu East.

On July 14 this year, a suspected Al-Shabaab terrorist was killed while one police officer injured when a group of over 20 heavily armed Al-Shabaab militants attacked the Mangai Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) camp in Basuba Ward of Lamu East Sub-County.

One AK-47 rifle and three magazines full of ammunitions were recovered from the militants.

On July 10th this year, 14 GSU officers escaped death narrowly when suspected Al-Shabaab militants threw an IED at their armoured personnel carrier (APC) at Baure in Lamu East.