NAIROBI – In a decisive counter-terrorism operation, Kenyan security forces neutralized two Al-Shabaab militants in Mandera on Monday, preventing a planned attack on civilian vehicles.
Acting on credible intelligence, officers from the elite Special Operations Group (SOG) launched a pre-dawn raid against insurgents who were preparing to plant explosives along the Alungu-Elwak road in Mandera County.
Upon arrival, security personnel engaged the terrorists in a fierce firefight, resulting in the deaths of two militants. Several others, wounded during the exchange, managed to escape into nearby thickets.
Recovered from the scene were two AK-47 rifles, a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) warhead, and a fully assembled improvised explosive device (IED), confirming the militants’ intent to inflict harm on civilian traffic.
Security officials hailed the successful operation, emphasizing that the swift intervention had averted a potential large-scale tragedy.
“The terrorists were caught in the act of setting up the IED, prompting an immediate response from our officers. This operation successfully neutralized two militants and disrupted their plans,” read a police report.
Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to counter-terrorism efforts, pledging ongoing support for security forces tasked with safeguarding the nation.
In a separate but related incident on May 8, the elite SOG unit neutralized another Al-Shabaab militant in Garissa following reports from locals about an attempt to plant IEDs along the Dadaab-Hagadera road. Security forces killed one suspect, injured three others, and apprehended an additional individual.
Weapons recovered during that operation included a PKM machine gun, an AK-47 rifle, a pistol, a communication radio, and an IED remote trigger.
With heightened vigilance and strategic counter-terrorism operations, authorities continue their efforts to curb extremist activities and protect Kenyan communities from terror threats.
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