Police Officers Killed in Al-Shabaab Attack in Lamu

A torched police van following an ambush by Al Shabaab militants in Milihoi, Lamu on Friday, January 7, 2022.
A torched police van following an ambush by Al Shabaab militants in Milihoi, Lamu on Friday, January 7, 2022.

Four police officers are feared dead following an Al Shabaab attack at Milihoi, Lamu County.

Multiple reports indicated that the officers died after the militants attacked a police convoy on the morning of Friday, January 7. 

The officers and the attackers engaged in gunfire that resulted in the deaths. Authorities believe that the militants attacked the police van using a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) or an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

A multi-agency unit combing the area erected a roadblock at Ndeu in Hindi on the Lamu-Wetu-Garsen road, to track the militants. 

A torched police van following an ambush by Al Shabaab militants in Milihoi, Lamu on Friday, January 7, 2022.
A torched police van following an ambush by Al Shabaab militants in Milihoi, Lamu on Friday, January 7, 2022.

The attack comes a few days after the militant group killed 7 people in the area. Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, ordered a 30-day dusk to dawn curfew in parts of Lamu County following the attack. 

In accordance with Section 106(1) of the National Police Service Act, 2011, the National Security Council (NSC) has declared the following parts of Lamu County as Disturbed Areas," read the statement in part.

Other areas were Majembeni, Ndamwe, Mkunumbi, Pandanguo, Witu, Hamasi, Binde Warinde, Bomani, Pongwe, Mpeketoni, Bahari, Mapenya and Hindi locations. 

The NSC also directed the immediate deployment of a multi-agency security team to mop-up illegal firearms and activities in the affected areas.

“Residents in the disturbed areas are requested to cooperate with the security agencies and to share information on suspicious persons and activities,” Matiang'i stated.

Attacks attributed to domestic terrorism and militants have witnessed a sharp increase over the last few months forcing the government to swing into action.

Interior CS Fred Matiang'i speaks at the ministry's event on election preparedness on December 16,  2021
Interior CS Fred Matiang'i speaks at the ministry's event on election preparedness on December 16, 2021
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Fred Matiang'i
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