Lamu County, Kenya – At least five police officers have been killed and eight others seriously wounded in an ambush believed to have been carried out by suspected Al-Shabaab militants at the Rakei area, near Boni Forest in Lamu County.
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70 Militants Attempted Border Crossing
According to Lamu County Police Commissioner Wesley Koech, preliminary intelligence reveals that over 70 armed militants attempted to cross the Bodhei-Lamu border via Garissa when they encountered officers from the elite Special Operations Group (SOG).
Air Evacuation of Casualties
The firefight occurred just 3 kilometers from Lamu, prompting an emergency operation. The injured officers and the remains of the deceased were airlifted to Nairobi for medical attention and further processing.
Security officers patrol near Boni Forest, where the ambush took place. Photo/Courtesy
Militants’ Motive Suspected
Commissioner Koech suspects the attackers were aiming to infiltrate the region to execute planned assaults on local communities and security installations. He emphasized the importance of public vigilance and encouraged residents to report any unfamiliar individuals in their localities.
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Government’s Security Warning
Authorities have issued fresh warnings and pledged to heighten surveillance along the Kenya-Somalia border to thwart further infiltration attempts by terror groups such as Al-Shabaab, which remains a persistent threat in the region.
“We urge all citizens to stay alert and promptly report any suspicious behavior to the nearest security agencies,” said Koech.
