Police repulse attack on Sheikhbarrow camp in Mandera
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Security officers in Mandera County repulsed an attack by suspected al-Shabaab militants targeting a border police camp in Lafey Sub-County on Sunday evening.
According to police, the incident happened after militants launched a probing attack on Sheikhbarrow Border Patrol Unit camp at about 6:45pm.
The attackers, said to be an unknown number of suspected al Shabaab militants, reportedly fired rocket-propelled grenades and used firearms believed to include PKM rifles from the northern side of the camp.
Police said officers stationed at the camp responded swiftly and managed to repel the attackers after an exchange that lasted about 10 minutes.
Authorities confirmed that no casualties, injuries or damage were reported during the incident.
Security agencies said the situation was brought under control and that further details would be released after security teams conduct clearance operations in the area.
This is the second such incident to happen in the region in a day.
Security officers in Fafi Sub-county, Garissa County, repulsed a suspected similar militant attack on Kambios Police Post.
According to the police, the incident occurred at around 12:45am Saturday May 23 when an unknown number of suspected militants attacked the post and fired several rounds of ammunition.
Police officers stationed at the post responded with return fire, successfully repelling the attackers.
Police said no officer was injured during the exchange.
The situation was later brought under control, with security officers reinforcing the area as investigations and security operations continue.
Police said they had intensified operations in the area to address the menace. Such incidents are common on the border area.
At the weekend, a joint and coordinated security operation in the Digdiga general area, Wajir County led to the dismantling of a suspected al-Shabaab camp at Qanjara Durow.
During the operation, security personnel established a presence near Gel Qad Junction before advancing towards Qanjara Durow, where they encountered suspected militants and engaged in a fierce exchange of fire.
They overpowered the al-Shabaab militants and secured the area.
The team further dismantled the camp after neutralising more militants who were present. Upon searching the camp, the team recovered assorted materials linked to militant activities, including communication equipment, improvised explosive device (IED)-related materials, uniforms, ammunition, food supplies, and other logistical items.
The recovered materials were secured for further examination as investigations continue.
Security operations in the area have since been intensified as investigations continue into those behind the attack.
The area is near the Kenya-Somalia border which is usually breached by al Shabaab terrorists for attacks.
Kenya has mounted operations to address the menace which has curtailed development in the area at large.
This has led to deployment of more personnel and technology in the region to address the menace.
The terrorists usually set up explosives on the roads and leave dozens of Kenyans dead and property destroyed.
Somalia has not had a stable government for decades which has created room for the terror group to operate and cross into Kenya for attacks.
Security agents have mounted operations in the area in an effort to contain the terror-related attacks.
Officials say this has led to the reduction of such incidents in general.
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.
Several regions have since been liberated from the terrorists.