Suspected Al-Shabaab militants kill four in Wajir

Wajir, Kenya: An attack linked to the Somali based Al-Shabaab militia has claimed four lives and left three others with serious injuries in North-Eastern border town of Wajir Tuesday night.

The attack that rocked Bulla Burwaqo, a village located 4 kilometers to the West of Wajir police station, has greatly interfered with usual activities in the town.

Wajir County Police Commander Samuel Mukindia told The Standard on phone that the deceased were burnt beyond recognition, after the premises they were in, caught fire during the attack.

"The assailants lobbed explosives at the building, which was serving as enjoined goods and M-pesa shop killing four people and wounding three others who were inside the shop at the time of the raid. The victims were killed in the ensuing burning of the shop," he said.

All those killed were men.

Mukindia said the assailants who were about 4 – 6, according to the eyewitnesses, were all heavily armed with guns and explosives, adding that they shot at shoppers who were at the premises before hurling the explosives at the shop.

“We don't know the motive and identity of the attackers since nobody has claimed responsibility so far, but the attacks bear the hallmarks of previous attacks in the town and other parts of the region, which Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility,” he noted.

“The premise caved into smoldering debris due to impact of the explosive used,” he explained.

The county police chief said among those who sustained injuries is a teenage girl who was selling in the shop during the 8.20pm incident.

He said a combined security team led by the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) from Wajir is pursuing the assailants, adding that they were confident they will catch up with them soon.

The attack occured hours after suspected Al-Shabaab militants had set three IEDs at border point three, a place where police patrolling the common border with Somalia usually take guard.

The scene of the Mandera explosion is about six kilometers from the KDF camp where Interior coordination secretary in charge of security Victor Okioma who arrived in Mandera to assess the security situation in the border county held a meeting with area top security chiefs.

Mandera East Deputy County Commissioner Elvis Korir who confirmed the incident said one of the IEDs planted in the area went off; the other two were detonated by anti-terror police a few minutes after the explosion.

Nobody was injured in the explosion and no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.

Three key suspects were apprehended after Friday's attack on the convoy of Mandera governor Ali Roba during which three people were killed.

Mandera county commissioner Alex Nkoyo on Monday said police are searching for a vehicle which was used to ferry criminals who killed one person on Sunday night where three others were critically injured.