A soldier from Kenya Defence Forces was Monday morning killed after an explosion caused by an improvised Explosive Device in Elwak, Mandera County.
The attack was the second one in less then 24 hours following Sunday’s where a four wheel drive car was badly damaged in the same area.
Officials said a joint patrol party involving KDF and Special Operations Group encountered a reinforced ambush leading to death of one KDF soldier at Qura-Qura 15 kilometers outside Elwak.
The other team escaped as they engaged the gang behind the attack in a gunfight.
Their vehicle was badly damaged in the Monday attack, officials said.
On Sunday February 23, another security car encountered an IED in the same area but no injuries were reported.
The area is near the Kenya-Somalia border which is usually breached by the al Shabaab terror group.
Police said they had mounted operations in the area to tame the terror activities.
Last week, the Assistant chief of Bula power sub location in Mandera Township was arrested in connection with his involvement in an attempted and illegal processing of Kenyan IDs in favour of two foreign nationals cum terror suspects.
The suspect identified as Isack Mohammed Abdi and Noor Yakub Ali were arrested in a failed abduction plan targeting Chinese nationals in the town on February 18.
The administrator Yussuf Maalim Issak is suspected to have facilitated the procurement of an acknowledgement for registration slip /Id waiting card for the terror suspects who were arrested while planning the abduction of a team of foreign nationals engaged in the construction of a sewer line in Mandera town.
The arrest has sparked more probe to establish the veracity of the issue.
Police suspect more foreigners have been helped to illegally acquire documents in Kenya.
The assistant chief was processed with the detectives and other security agencies working tirelessly to ensure that the residents of Mandera and all working within the town and it’s environs remain safe and secure and they undertake their day to day activities.
On February 18, police in Mandera East arrested two suspected al Shabaab operatives, who had planned the abduction of a team of the foreign nationals working at a sewer line construction site within Mandera township.
Acting on intelligence, the ever agile sleuths swiftly arrested the prime suspect, Isaac Abdi Mohamed alias Kharan Abdi Hassan, 29, who had recently sneaked his way into the country from El-ade in Somalia and forged a number of documents to identify as a Kenyan.
On keen scrutiny and thorough interrogation, it was discovered that the suspect was to pay Sh100,000 to his local associate, who would assist in the abduction exercise before he and another, Noor Yacob Ali, 29 facilitated the to-be victims’ movement to El-ade at a Sh300,000 fee.
Consequently, another operation was conducted, where Yacob Ali was cornered and arrested at Metameta area within Mandera township by a multi-agency security team.
This comes as Kenya is still negotiating with terrorists who kidnapped six people including five chiefs in Elwak, Mandera.
The group is being held in Jilib, Somalia amid efforts for their release.
The abductors have demanded ransom for the release of the victims.
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