At least five quarry workers were Tuesday morning killed in an attack at their work place in Bur Abor Village in Mandera East, Mandera County.
Police in the area linked the attack on suspected al-shabaab militants who had been spotted in the area.
All the victims were non-locals working at a quarry for a living.
They have been excavating stones for construction in the area.
This is not the first time such an incident happens in the area amid operations to address al-Shabaab threats. Police said some of the workers were injured and rushed to Mandera Referral Hospital following the deadly attack that happened at 7 am.
Witnesses said the attackers were armed with rifles when they struck and ordered the workers to lie down. They then shot them at close range. Blood stains caked where the bodies lay before police arrived and picked them to the mortuary.
No arrest was made immediately. At least two other workers were admitted with serious wounds.
Other witnesses said the militants ambushed a vehicle with the workers by blocking the road with stones before embarking on their mission.
Security teams who were patrolling the area responded to the scene but found the gang had escaped.
Police headquarters said a reinforcement had been sent to the area to pursue the matter.
The killings have caused widespread fear and tension among residents in the village, with security authorities rushing to the scene to begin investigations.
“The identities of the victims are being confirmed. Efforts are underway to notify their families and home communities,” said Mohamed Abdiaziz Roble, the Village Administrator of Bur Abor, in an official brief.
Roble also urged community members to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
“This is a deeply troubling event. We are working closely with security forces to ensure justice and restore a sense of safety,” added Roble.
Similar attacks had in 2014 and 2015 paralyzed construction works in the area as the militants targeted workers at the sites killing dozens.
Police said the gang crossed the border into Somalia. This is the latest such incident in the area amid operations by separate teams.
The area is under the multi-agency security operation and is near the Kenya-Somalia border. The multi-agency operation seeks to flush out the militants from the.
This has seen a significant reduction in such incidents. The area has been facing an increase in terror related attacks.
This is among other things because of its proximity to Somalia border. The border areas of Mandera, Wajir, Lamu and Garissa too have faced similar attacks which have affected development at large.
The government says they have acquired more resources to enhance operations in the border area against the terrorists.
The attacks have left many dead and displaced hence affecting development.
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