Bandits strike, kill two in Mandera despite heavy security presence

By Adow Jubat and Cyrus Ombati

Mandera, Kenya: Bandits defied the heavy presence of security forces in Mandera County and killed two people and injured four others in separate attacks on two remote villages in Banisa Constituency on Sunday.

The attacks that renewed fears of inter-clan feuds in the county, sent hundreds of panic-stricken villagers fleeing from their homes for fear of more attacks.

Banisa ward County representative Yakub Hassan said in the first incident, which occurred at Urille village in Lulis sub-location some three Kilometres from Banisa town, an elderly woman was killed and four others injured.

He said those injured included an expectant mother, two middle age men and a three-year-old.

“Armed people estimated by the victims to be more than 15 descended on the village and indiscriminately opened fire on the residents” the leader said. Mr Hassan said the heavily armed bandits, believed to be from a rival clan, struck while the villagers were asleep at around midnight.

In the second incident, a middle-aged motorcycle operator was shot dead at 10am on Sunday by bandits suspected to be from a rival clan at Birbore village, some 5km from Banisa town. Police, however, blamed the attacks on Ethiopian militias who they said crossed the border on a revenge mission.

Police said the gang later vanished into Ethiopia, which is about a kilometre away from the scene of the attack. The deceased and injured are said to be from Garreh sub-clan.

Inter-clan feud

According to North Eastern police boss Charlton Murithi, the deceased are a man and woman while those injured are a man, woman and a child. They are admitted to the Banisa District Hospital.

“We suspect the attack was in a retaliation to the Thursday one in which three Degodia women were killed in Malkamar area,” said Murithi.

The attack happened hours after the military moved into the area after intelligence warned of an impending attack. Murithi said enough security personnel had been deployed in the area to contain any more attacks.

The attacks occurred two days after three women from Degodia clan were killed when militiamen believed to be from Ethiopia attacked a village at the main border in Mandera County. Officials said tension was high along the Kenya-Ethiopia border following the attacks.

Other sources warned of another looming attack and pleaded that more police officers be sent to the area.

There has been inter-clan fighting between Degodia and Gareh over control of resources in the larger Mandera County in the past month, which has left at least ten people dead.

More officers have been deployed to the area in an effort to address the insecurity.

Mandera residents have so far surrendered 18 guns and more than 500 bullets following an ultimatum that was issued by the Government.

The weapons were handed over to chiefs after the order by Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo last Sunday.