Kenyan security forces have gunned down four suspected al-Shabaab militants in Garissa County during a fierce clash in the Najo and Guracho areas on Monday, averting a planned attack in the region.
According to police reports, the militants were in the process of scouting the area with the intention of attacking security personnel and installations when they were intercepted. Acting on intelligence, Kenya’s elite Special Operations Group (SOG) trailed the suspects for hours after a surveillance drone first spotted them. A deadly exchange of fire ensued, culminating in the neutralisation of the four militants.
Recovered at the scene were two AK-47 rifles, a PKM machine gun, several rounds of ammunition, and communication radios—equipment pointing to the group’s preparations for a major assault.
Authorities hailed the success as a significant victory in the country’s ongoing war against terrorism. The area, which borders Somalia, has long been identified as a hotspot for militant activity, with al-Shabaab operatives frequently crossing the porous border to launch attacks. These have targeted not only security installations but also civil servants and non-local residents, often using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and guerrilla-style tactics.
The attack prevention is part of a broader strategy that has seen increased deployment of security personnel, enhanced surveillance, and the use of modern technology to disrupt al-Shabaab networks. Police also emphasized the role of local sympathizers in aiding terrorist activities and called for community cooperation in flushing out such elements.
This latest success adds to Kenya’s ongoing counter-terrorism efforts that began in earnest with Operation Linda Nchi in 2011, launched after the abduction of foreign aid workers by al-Shabaab near the Dadaab refugee camp. Kenyan forces later captured the key Somali port of Kismayo in 2012 under Operation Sledgehammer, severely weakening the group’s logistics.
Despite these gains, the al-Shabaab threat remains persistent, particularly in regions close to the Somalia border. However, with operations like the one in Garissa, Kenyan forces continue to demonstrate their resolve to safeguard the nation from extremist threats.
