Lamu bound bus attacked by suspected Al shabaab militia

Witu, Kenya: Suspected Al Shabaab militants attacked a bus that was headed for Lamu Saturday at 3pm in one of the most daring incidents in Nyangoro area, Witu, Lamu County.

Officials said security agents from KDF, GSU and Regular Police were deployed to the area to pursue the four militants, who are said to have shot severally at the Tawakal bus, which was headed to Lamu.

Police sources said no one was injured during the incident.

According to police who asked not to be named, the assailants ambushed the bus at Lango la Simba area in Nyongoro, Witu.

Witnesses said the attackers boarded the bus but later alighted after realizing almost all the passengers were Muslims telling them ‘you are not the people we wanted’.

"They even alighted and prayed before they vanished. There were government officials in the bus," said a witness.

Lamu County Commander Ephantus Kiura said driver gained courage and drove the ill-fated bus to the Nyangoro GSU camp.

Kiura said the area has poor network thus hindering communication between officers on the ground.

He added that the poor network in the region made it difficult for them to pursue the gunmen.

"They vanished into a nearby forest after realising the target was not good," said Kiura, alluding that the gang wanted non-Muslims.

The incident came weeks after a similar one in Mandera in which 28 people, all of whom were non-Muslims, were slaughtered.