In a tragic escalation of cross-border militancy, five police officers were killed and eight others seriously injured following an ambush by suspected Al-Shabaab militants in the Rakei area of Boni Forest, Lamu County.
The officers, who were part of the elite Special Operations Group (SOG), were patrolling the volatile border region when they encountered over 70 heavily armed militants believed to be attempting a covert incursion from Somalia through the Bodhei-Lamu border via Garissa.
Confirming the attack, Lamu County Police Commissioner Wesley Koech said the militants opened fire on the officers during the early hours of the operation. Despite a fierce gun battle, the outnumbered officers suffered casualties before reinforcements arrived. The deceased and injured officers were later airlifted to Nairobi for further treatment and post-mortem procedures.
“This incident occurred just three kilometres from Lamu. Preliminary intelligence indicates the militants were seeking to cross into the country to launch coordinated attacks,” said Commissioner Koech.
Security forces have since launched a manhunt within the dense Boni Forest region, a known hideout for Al-Shabaab operatives, as authorities heighten surveillance across the Kenya-Somalia border.
Commissioner Koech urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious persons or activities to security agencies. “We appeal to members of the public to cooperate with law enforcement. No one should harbor individuals they do not know or trust,” he added.
This latest attack underscores the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab in the region and the ongoing challenges faced by Kenya’s security forces in securing remote and porous border zones.
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