At least two people were December 28 shot and killed by suspected al-Shabaab terrorists
At least two people were December 28 shot and killed by suspected al-Shabaab terrorists who had disguised as Kenyan military and erected an illegal roadblock in the Witu area, Lamu County.
The gang also burnt down a motorcycle as they conducted an illegal search before they were confronted by police, police said.
This is the second incident to happen in the area in two days leaving four people killed and property destroyed.
Coat regional commissioner John Elungata said they had deployed more personnel in the area and especially in the expansive Boni Forest to pursue the gunmen operating from there.
On Wednesday, a police lorry was headed for the Mokowe area when they came across the roadblock that had been mounted by about ten men wearing jungle uniforms similar to those used by Kenya Defense Forces.
Police said the terrorists had stopped four vehicles and had shot dead a lorry driver and his turn boy.
When the gang saw the police lorry they opened fire forcing those on board to take cover in the bushes as they fought back.
The team sought reinforcements as they fought the gang while retreating into the forest.
And after a lull it was then it was discovered that four vehicles were held hostage there including one with two female Italians and another lorry that had two occupants all of whom were rescued, police said.
The bodies of the driver and his turn boy were also found in their lorry that had its fuel tank damaged by bullets.
Police said another salon car was found at the roadblock but did not have occupants at the time of the incident at about 6 pm.
The police vehicle was damaged in the shootout.
The gang escaped towards Boni Forest.
This is an indication the terrorists are not pitching their operations in the area amid fears of more attacks.
On Monday, two people were shot and killed by gunmen believed to be al-Shabaab militants in the Pandaguo area, Lamu County.
Police who responded to the Christmas Day incident said several houses in the area were also torched by the attackers.
The area is near the Kenya-Somalia border which has been under attack by terrorists in the past.
It is also near Boni Forest which is an operation zone as the national government has since 2015 conducted a multi-agency security exercise dubbed Linda Boni, which is aimed at flushing out al-Shabaab militants believed to be hiding there.
Elungata assured residents of their security saying both the military and police have put in place mechanisms to ensure the safety of those in isolated areas.
“We are determined to ensure safety for all. We need calm from locals,” he said.
Elungata is leading a security operation in the area.
The attacks come barely a week after the suspected al-Shabaab militants attacked a police vehicle between Hayley Lapsset camp and Garissa.
The police vehicle was heading to Garissa when it stepped on an improvised explosive device.
They then attacked again using a rocket-propelled grenade followed by heavy gunfire that led to the death of one civilian and two police officers.
The vehicle attached to Galmagalla Police Station, Bura East operating along the LAPSSET corridor was also set ablaze by the assailants.
Kenya began the construction of the 700-kilometer-long wall in 2015 to stop the militants from crossing into and out of Kenya.
The wall, which is known as the Kenya-Somalia border securitization project is among others meant to secure the country from attacks by the Somalia-based al-Shabaab terrorists.
