A survivor from the terror attack on a public service vehicle (PSV) in Mandera has revealed fresh details on the harrowing ordeal.
The PSV ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), on Monday, January 31, blowing up nearly 13 people on the spot, while 7 others survived and are recuperating at the Mandera Referral Hospital.
It has emerged that Police had intelligence reports on the impending attack, following a tip-off by area residents.
The survivor, Abdi Ibrahim, recounted how the driver of the PSV ignored orders by the police to stop moments before the attack.
“Before the explosion, police who were on the road stopped us but the driver did not stop. Then a few minutes later, I heard an explosion, after which I found myself in hospital,” narrated Ibrahim.
The IED, it has emerged, had targeted a contingent of General Service Unit (GSU) officers who were on their way to Mandera.
Area residents along the Arabia-Mandera road, noticed suspicious activity by unidentified armed men and tipped off the GSU officers, who would proceed to flag down vehicles that were heading the Mandera way.
The locals also nabbed one suspect, who confessed to having been among a group of six who set up the explosive.
He was pressed into divulging more details by the locals, who later handed him to the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) for questioning.
Local leaders have since called in on the government to step up measures to mitigate such terrorist attacks.
“Terrorism is a worldwide concern, but it has become more concerning in this region. We need the KDF to step in as they have the necessary equipment to repulse these attacks,” said Mandera East MP Omar Salah.
The attack comes after yet another spate of attacks in Lamu county early last month, that was linked to the Al-Shabaab Militia group.
