A number of quarry workers are feared dead following an attack carried out by gunmen in the wee hours of Friday morning at Qalengelesa area in Mandera.
Elwak Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Charles Chacha confirmed the incident saying police had rushed to the scene.
“We are informed of an attack on several quarry workers at Qalengelesa area along Elwak-Takaba route but the officers on the ground are yet to communicate back for me to know the situation,” he said.
Mr Chacha admitted that security agencies in Mandera South were aware of a possible attack on the miners and took interventions on time.
“Earlier yesterday (Thursday) we sent a police lorry to collect all miners from the quarries to Elwak Town only to realise this morning that some went back by their own means,” he said.
It is not yet clear whether the attack was carried out by Al Shabaab as there had been business rivalry among local quarry owners.
“We are not sure of Al-Shabaab but the quarry owners have been having issues and our complete investigations will prove more,” he said.
