Five police officers were killed, and eight others injured in a deadly attack by suspected Al Shabaab militants in Boni Forest, Lamu County. The assault took place on May 2, 2025, when a group of over 70 militants attempted to cross the Bodhei-Lamu Border in Garissa. The police officers, part of a Special Operations Group (SOG), had been tracking the suspected terrorists for two days and were in pursuit when the ambush occurred.
The officers, while following the terrorists into the Lehelo area of Boni Forest, were met with a well-coordinated and heavy barrage of gunfire. The attackers were well-organized, and the officers were caught off guard by the intensity of the ambush. As a result, five officers were fatally shot, while eight others sustained injuries of varying severity. The wounded officers were immediately evacuated from the scene and flown to Nairobi for urgent medical attention. The Kenyan police believe that there were likely casualties on the part of the Al Shabaab militants as well, though specific details about their losses have not been confirmed.
Lamu Police Commissioner Wesley Koech confirmed the attack and reported that the officers had been working tirelessly in an attempt to capture the militants. The officers’ efforts were part of an ongoing counterterrorism operation in the region, which has been a hotspot for Al Shabaab activity. The attack occurred as the militants were attempting to move across a key border area, which has seen numerous such incursions in the past.
The police force has intensified its counterterrorism operations following the attack, with a particular focus on the volatile Boni Forest region, known to harbor militants. The operation aims to disrupt the movements of Al Shabaab fighters and prevent further attacks on Kenyan soil. Security forces in the area have been under pressure, with several past confrontations between militants and law enforcement officers.
The Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, condemned the brutal attack and visited the injured officers at Nairobi West Hospital on Thursday. He was accompanied by senior police officials, including the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, and the Deputy Inspector Generals of the Kenya Police Service (KPS) and the Administration Police Service (APS). Murkomen expressed his condolences to the families of the fallen officers, calling the attack a tragic reminder of the sacrifices made by the police to protect the country. He also vowed to continue bolstering the government’s support for law enforcement officers, emphasizing the need for better welfare, equipment, and medical care.
The attack has once again highlighted the dangers faced by security forces in regions affected by terrorism. The Boni Forest area has been a hotspot for Al Shabaab militants who have frequently used it as a base for launching attacks on Kenyan targets. Al Shabaab, the Somali-based militant group, has been responsible for numerous attacks in Kenya over the years, particularly targeting security forces, civilians, and strategic infrastructure.
In his statement, Murkomen also extended his sympathies to the families of officers who lost their lives in recent operations across the country, acknowledging the risk that officers face daily in their line of duty. As part of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, the Kenyan government has vowed to take decisive action to eradicate Al Shabaab’s presence in the region and ensure the safety of both the police officers and civilians living in these conflict zones.
The attack has sparked widespread concern about the increasing frequency of Al Shabaab incursions into Kenyan territory, as the government faces mounting challenges in containing the threat posed by the militant group. Despite these challenges, the government remains committed to supporting its law enforcement agencies and will continue to ramp up security operations in the affected areas.
