At least eight police officers sustained serious injuries following a suspected al-Shabaab attack in Garissa County on the evening of Tuesday, August 5. The officers were travelling along the Banabs-Yumbis Road in a police Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle when it ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by suspected militants.
According to police authorities, the officers were part of a Border Patrol Unit team on routine patrol near the Kenya–Somalia border when they were ambushed. The assailants, believed to be members of the al-Shabaab terror group, opened fire on the police vehicle, triggering a fierce gunfight. It is suspected that the IED had been planted earlier as part of the coordinated attack.
The explosion severely damaged the MRAP and set it ablaze. A second police vehicle, a Land Cruiser with additional officers, was dispatched to the scene and successfully rescued their injured colleagues from the burning wreckage. The injured officers were rushed to a nearby medical facility before plans were made to airlift them to Nairobi for further treatment.
The attackers managed to escape before reinforcements arrived. Police say the gang remains at large and is suspected to be hiding within the region, which has long been identified as a stronghold for al-Shabaab operations due to its proximity to the porous Kenya–Somalia border.
National Police Service spokesman Michael Muchiri confirmed that multi-agency security teams have been deployed to pursue the perpetrators and bolster ongoing operations aimed at deterring future attacks. He acknowledged the persistent threat posed by the militants, but noted that increased security efforts have significantly reduced the frequency of such incidents in recent months.
Garissa and neighbouring counties have witnessed a fluctuating lull in terrorist activity, largely attributed to sustained police and military operations. However, authorities caution that the threat remains and continuous vigilance is necessary.
The ongoing instability in Somalia has allowed terror groups like al-Shabaab to operate with impunity, often crossing into Kenya to launch attacks that have disrupted development and endangered lives in the border region.
Security agencies remain on high alert as efforts continue to dismantle terrorist cells and restore peace in the area.
