Three watchmen killed, four injured in Ifo refugee camp in Daadab

By Cyrus Ombati

Daadab, Kenya: Three watchmen were on Wednesday night shot dead by unknown assailants in an attack at Ifo shopping centre in Dadaab refugee camp.

Four other guards were wounded in the attack by the gunmen who escaped on foot after stealing their mobile phones.

The victims were on duty at a local shopping centre popularly known as Bosnia when the gunmen struck at about midnight.

Police say they are yet to know the motive of the attack. North Eastern police boss Charlton Murithi said they suspect the gang is part of a larger one that has been trying to make major towns in North Eastern unstable.

He added the attackers could be bandits roaming in the area but they are pursuing various leads.

The killings came few hours after two people were shot dead in Garissa Town by assailants who escaped on foot.

Police mounted an operation overnight Wednesday arresting more than 500 people.

The two men were killed in a place popularly known as Shifta Camp near the local library at about 6.20 pm.

Police said the attackers might have mistaken the two to be security agents.

A day before a police officer escaped death in another attack.

The officer escaped the death after he slid and fell as the gunmen aimed at him on Tuesday evening. A suspect is in custody over the attack.

Murithi said the attacks were the latest after a lull that has lasted almost a month following a major operation in the town to get illegal immigrants and gunmen who had been behind a series of gun attacks that claimed dozens of lives.