Officers survive landmine explosion

By CYRUS OMBATI

Four police officers escaped death yesterday morning after their vehicle hit a landmine in Dadaab refugee camp.

The officers were escorting officials of an NGO for an assignment when the incident occurred at Dagahaley area within Dadaab refugee camp, police said.

The police vehicle was badly damaged, but reports indicate the officers escaped unhurt.

“The officers have all survived the explosion that hit their vehicle. They were escorting some officials there when the blast happened,” said an officer in the area who asked not to be named.

In May last year, a similar attack killed a police officer and injured three others.

Incidents of attacks by Al Shabaab mainly targeted at security forces in the Eastern and North Eastern Provinces have been on the increase since Kenyan military forces crossed into Somalia to battle the terrorist group.

The latest landmine attacks come amid heightened security following threats of more reprisal attacks.

Kenya blames Al Shabaab and their sympathisers for kidnappings and grenade attacks that have led to stepping up of security in major urban centres as well as border towns.

At least 50 security officers have been killed in dozens of attacks that have occurred in Nairobi, Mombasa, Mandera, Garissa and Wajir counties since 2011.