Two children die in explosion at field in Mandera East

Mandera County Police Commander Bernard  PHOTO:COURTESY

Two children died and three others were wounded in an explosion at a field in Mandera East, Mandera County.

The children were playing with an explosive device on Saturday afternoon when it went off, killing the two and leaving others with serious injuries.

Mandera police boss Bernard Nyakwaka said a group of teenagers aged between 13 and 15 were playing with the device.

“Experts are investigating the nature of the device but we suspect it to be a grenade dropped by unknown people within the village near Hareri Hosle Centre,” said Mr Nyakwaka.

The police boss said one of the children died on the spot and another on arrival at Mandera County Referral Hospital. Military personnel from Omar Jillo camp responded to the scene and helped take the injured to hospital.

UNFAMILIAR OBJECTS

The police boss appealed to locals and especially parents to always keep an eye on their children and inform them on how they can handle unfamiliar objects.

“The area could be having explosives hence need for closer eye on the children. We have had similar incidents in the past,” he said.

The area has in the past been attacked by Al Shabaab. The last time an attack happened was in February when the militia ran over Arabia Police Camp.

The county is under a dusk to dawn curfew as part of efforts to address increasing cases of terror attacks from the Al Shabaab.

The curfew has affected businesses and operations in general but officials say they are managing the situation.

More than 50 people have been killed in the area in the last three years in separate attacks linked to the terror group that crosses from nearby Somalia border.