At least seven police officers were injured early Tuesday morning after their patrol vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) along the Gadudia-Laga Road between Aresa and Khalalio in Mandera East, near the Kenya-Somalia border.
The officers were travelling from the Bambo area towards Mandera town when the explosion occurred at approximately 1:00 am, about four kilometres west of the Mandera Police Station. The blast severely damaged the police vehicle, which was bearing the registration GKB 885W, particularly destroying its rear section.
All seven officers sustained multiple serious injuries and were quickly evacuated to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities confirmed that multi-agency security teams had been deployed to the area to track down those responsible for the attack.
The region, which lies close to the porous Kenya-Somalia border, has previously been a hotspot for al-Shabaab militant activity, although recent months had seen a relative lull in such incidents. Security officials suspect the Somali-based extremist group to be behind the attack.
National Police Service spokesperson Michael Muchiri said security operations are being intensified in the region, with renewed efforts aimed at dismantling militant networks that have disrupted peace and hindered development in the area.
“We are making deliberate efforts to address this persistent menace, and operations to secure the area are ongoing,” Muchiri stated.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to restoring security in the region and ensuring that development efforts are no longer undermined by terrorist threats.
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