In a significant development for Kenyan security agencies, an ambush on a Special Operation Group (SOG) by suspected members of the Al-Shabaab group resulted in the deaths of at least 20 militants and left eight security officers injured. The incident took place on Wednesday evening in Ogorwen, Mandera County, following a series of recent attacks by militants in the area.
Dr. Resila Onyango, the National Police Spokesperson, reported that the security agencies responded successfully to the situation. “Preliminary investigations indicate that the resulting heavy exchange of gunfire between our officers on patrol and the militants fatally injured 20 militants,” she stated over the phone. The police also recovered various weapons from the scene, including a sub-machine gun and an RPG.
The National Police Service (NPS) commended the dedication of its officers and reiterated its commitment to enhancing national security in a tweet. The officers were reportedly pursuing the gang when they were attacked with a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), leading to the clash in which eight officers were injured.
Dr. Onyango mentioned that the identity of the 20 suspected militants killed in the incident was yet to be determined, but investigations were underway to establish their origin. The police in Mandera are investigating the suspected Al-Shabaab terrorist attack on the Special Operations Group (SOG) team that occurred on July 5, 2023, in Ogorwen Location within Mandera County, as announced by the NPS on Twitter.
John Otieno, the North Eastern Regional Commissioner, revealed during a speech in Garissa that most of the militants causing trouble in the region were locals. The recent attacks have compelled the government to suspend plans to reopen the Kenya-Somalia border. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki explained that this decision was made due to an increase in terror-related attacks along the border, which have resulted in the deaths of over 20 individuals, including security officers, in the past month. The CS stated on Wednesday, while in Dadaab, Garissa County, “The Government will delay the planned reopening of Kenya-Somalia border points until we conclusively deal with the recent spate of terror attacks and cross-border crime.”
Prof. Kindiki further stated that the government had launched an operation targeting terror cells in the area. The operation aims to provide round-the-clock security to contractors and engineers working on key infrastructure projects in North Eastern Kenya while protecting them from criminal elements and extremists attempting to disrupt their operations. Among the projects being targeted are the Horn of Africa Gateway from Isiolo to Mandera and the Lamu Port, South Sudan, Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET), which was suspended earlier this year due to sustained terror attacks.
In another development, the Griftu Police Station Officer in Charge (OCS) at Wajir Police Headquarters is currently being held by detectives following the disappearance of four firearms and ammunition. Four rifles and a total of 110 rounds of ammunition went missing from the Griftu police station armory in Wajir West Sub-County under unclear circumstances. Despite the Arms Movement Records indicating that the missing arms and ammunition were in the armory, a thorough search conducted within the station and all police posts yielded no results.
The missing firearms include a G3 rifle with serial number G3 F89936 and three AK47 rifles with serial numbers KP 5501679, 5503607, and 5522034. It is suspected that the missing weapons may have been sold to the al-Shabaab militants who are causing unrest in the region. The Wajir County Criminal Investigation team is interrogating the OCS and the officer in charge of the armory at the
