Another NPR killed in raid on his home in Mandera amid operations

A National Police Reservist (NPR) officer was fatally shot following an attack by suspected al-Shabaab militants in Iresuki village, Mandera County, early Monday March 24 morning.

Officials said approximately 30 armed militants raided the village at around 5:00 AM, engaging NPR officers in heavy gunfire.

The attackers, armed with AK-47 rifles and PKM machine guns, targeted the NPR post, leading to the fatal shooting of officer Abdikher Ibrahim.

A multi-agency security team has since been deployed to the area to pursue the attackers. Investigations are currently being led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) Elwak detachment.

Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif expressed concern over the persistent attacks despite the presence of intelligence information, the military, and special forces.

Speaking to the press after this morning’s attack, in which the head of the NPR was killed at his home by armed gunmen, Khalif emphasized the need for security forces to change their tactics and adopt a more proactive approach.

He stated that the NPR had provided prior intelligence about the attack, yet no security personnel responded to their call for help.

Last month, five chiefs were kidnapped in Elwak, Mandera.

While Northeastern Kenya had enjoyed a period of calm for the past five years, the recent surge in killings and kidnappings has raised serious security concerns.

The incident comes just a day after another deadly attack in Garissa County, where six police reservists were killed when suspected al-Shabaab militants launched an assault on a police reserve camp in Fafi sub-county using Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs).

Garissa Deputy County Commissioner Naphtali Koojo confirmed that the attackers had targeted the poorly armed NPR officers, raising concerns about their vulnerability when facing militants equipped with sophisticated weaponry.

Intelligence reports issued before the attack in Fafi had warned of increased Al-Shabaab presence in the region, with cross-border militant infiltration and the reactivation of makeshift camps in Mamabute, Kamorjilla, and Dakajila areas.

Security agencies have now launched multi-agency operations in Mandera and Garissa to pursue the attackers, with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) leading investigations into both incidents.