Eight Border Patrol Unit officers were injured on Tuesday after their armoured vehicle hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the Kiwanja-Yumbis area of Fafi Sub-county, Garissa.
The incident occurred approximately 10 kilometres from Yumbis town while the officers were on routine patrol. Authorities suspect the device was planted by Al-Shabaab militants operating in the region.
Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo confirmed the attack, noting that all the injured officers were receiving medical attention and were in stable condition.
Following the incident, a joint security operation was launched to pursue the attackers and sweep the area for any further threats.
The attack adds to the ongoing insecurity challenges posed by militant groups along Kenya’s northeastern border, particularly in Garissa, Mandera, Lamu and neighbouring counties.
Just last month, seven police officers were injured on July 8, after their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED) along the Gadudia–Laga Road in Mandera East, Mandera County.
According to a police report filed at Khalalio Police Station, the attack occurred between Aresa and Khalalio, approximately four kilometres west of the station.
The officers were on board a Mandera Police Station vehicle, registration number GKB 885W, when the explosion went off.
The blast caused extensive damage to the rear section of the vehicle. Of the seven officers on board, six sustained various injuries, ranging from leg and hand wounds to trauma on the forehead, chest, and eyes. One officer managed to escape the incident unscathed.
In May, three police officers survived an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Daadab, Garissa County, after suspected militants planted the explosive on the road.
Garissa County Commissioner Naftali Koojo confirmed that the incident occurred at around 6 am on May 8, and security agencies continue to remain on high alert over the insurgents who have been targeting officers in the volatile North Eastern part of the country.
Al-Shabaab relies on IEDs because they are tactically effective against better-equipped security forces and difficult to detect. The group avoids direct combat by using explosives to target patrol vehicles and convoys from a distance, often ambushing officers in remote or poorly monitored areas, according to security experts.
Their ability to hide IEDs along roads or in everyday items makes it hard for security agencies to anticipate or prevent attacks, giving militants a significant advantage in the conflict.
