Al-Shabaab fighters invaded a village in Lamu County on the evening of Saturday, March 15. Speaking to Nation, Lamu County Commissioner Wesley Koech said the fighters lectured the residents of the Mangai village and gave them fruits before escaping to an unknown location.
Koech stated that the fighters did not injure anybody during the incident.
“There was an incident where armed suspected Al-Shabaab militants ambushed Mangai Village in Boni Forest. I am informed that they lectured the villagers and distributed date fruit to them before leaving for an unknown destination,” Koech said.
“The good thing is that no casualties were reported in the Saturday evening incident.”
Reports indicate that the group consisted of more than 100 heavily armed suspected Al-Shabaab fighters.
The government has assured the public of their safety and deployed additional security officers on Sunday to Mangai to track the terrorists.
Security Beefed Up in Mangai Village
Koech stated that the security has been beefed within the county, especially during this period of Ramadhan.
He explained that he is aware that such criminal gangs might try to use Ramadhan to promote divisions based on religion.
“We’re alert, and there’s no cause for alarm,” Koech said.
However, he asked residents to share valuable information with the security agencies to help arrest criminals in Lamu.
“That’s why yesterday’s militants lectured the Mangai residents and gave them dates in the name of Islam, but those are criminals, and people should just report them once they see them in their vicinity,” he added.
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Al-Shabaab Abducts Chiefs
On February 3, gunmen suspected of being linked with the Al-Shabaab group abducted five chiefs in Elwak, Mandera, as they were planning for the visit of President William Ruto.
Speaking on March 12, Interior PS Raymond Omollo said there are discussions between Kenya and Somalia to bring the chiefs back.
He revealed that the government is doing a lot behind the scenes to add on the talks between elders from both sides of the border.
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“There is a lot going on, some of which we might not discuss on air, we are consulting with our neigbouring country, and since the communities along the share similar ideals are spread across the border, elders are actively involved with the aim of ensuring the chiefs are safely back in the country,” said the PS.
President Ruto pledged to ensure the chiefs are brought back home safely.
He stated that the incident was meant to scare him from visiting the region.
Ruto warned that his administration will not allow criminals to terrorise people and slow down development in the region.
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