A primary school teacher and a chief were killed in an attack by al-Shabaab militants at Hulugho town, Garissa County.
The teacher served at Hulugho Primary School, while the chief was in charge of Boma Location.
They were both shot at close range, fatally on Monday January 26. The terrorists also blew up a car belonging to the chief.
The gang also shot at the Hulugho police station in what officials termed as a probing mission. No one was injured in the attack at the station which seemed to have happened simultaneously as that on the local village.
They used an FRG weapon and AK47 rifles in the attack on the police station before escaping.
It was later established the gang had invaded the home of Boma Location Chief Abdifatah Mohamud Owl and shot him at close range.
According to the police, the gunmen later detonated an explosive device on his car that was outside the home.
This happened as his family members hid in a room. They were spared.
They later proceeded to the house of Hulugho primary school teacher Stephen Vundi Musili and dragged him out.
Witnesses and police said they frog marched him for a distance before shooting him at close range. The gang escaped the scene, police said.
Police responded to the scene and learnt the two had been fatally shot. The bodies were moved to the mortuary pending other procedures, police said.
A team of counterterrorism investigators visited the scene and announced the terrorists were out to send a message but vowed justice.
The area is near the Kenya-Somalia boarder which is usually breached by the terrorists.
Garissa Women Representative Edo Udgoon Siyad condemned the attack, saying it is a big loss to the community.
Siyad extended her condolences to the families of the chief and the teacher, noting that they both served the Hulugho community with dedication.
“I send my condolences to the families of Chief Abdi Gani Owl and the dedicated teacher, both of whom served the Hulugho community with unwavering commitment. They were tragically killed in a violent attack by suspected
Al-Shabaab militants. Their deaths are a profound loss to their families and to the entire community.”
“We condemn this senseless violence and stand united in support of all affected. May Chief Gani rest in Jannatul Firdaus, and may the teacher’s family find strength and peace,” Siyad stated.
Ijara Member of Parliament Abdi Ali Abdi also condemned the suspected al-Shabaab attack and urged security agencies to strengthen security in the area and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“I strongly and unequivocally condemn this heinous attack. Targeting our community leaders and educators is an assault on governance, education and the very foundation of our shared future.
“I call upon the security forces to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice and to reinforce the protection of our vulnerable communities,” said the Ijara lawmaker.
This comes months after two police officers were killed and five other injured after their vehicle struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) along the Liboi-Kulan road in Garissa County.
Somalia has not had an effective central government since the 1991 overthrow of President Siad Barre’s military regime, which ushered in more than two decades of anarchy and conflict in a country deeply divided along clan lines. Kenya launched Operation Linda Nchi on October 14, 2011, after gunmen seized tourists at the Coast, which the Government saw as a threat to the country’s sovereignty, as it targeted the nation’s economic lifeline, which is tourism.
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