Suspected al-Shabaab militants killed 2 people and burned homes in Kenya’s Lamu County on Monday. In a harrowing incident, the gang ambushed a lorry on the Witu-Lamu-Garsen road in the Lango la Simba area. The assault resulted in the deaths of a lorry driver and his colleague.
Lango la Simba, Lamu County, KENYA. By Yahya:
Lamu West Deputy County Commissioner Gabriel Kioni confirmed the attack and the subsequent escape of the attackers. The attack occurred between 6:30 and 7 am, with the heavily armed militants waylaying the vehicle and proceeding to slit the throats of the driver and his assistant. “The gang escaped soon after the incident, and efforts to address the menace are ongoing,” Kioni told the Nation.
This brutal ambush was not an isolated incident. The assailants had also set fire to at least ten houses and a church in the Salama village, leaving a trail of destruction. Eyewitnesses and law enforcement reported that over 30 heavily armed terrorists had raided the village between 8:30 and 11 pm on the same day. Moreover, the attackers reportedly stole 22 goats, 15 bags of maize, several chickens, and other valuable items before retreating.
Additionally, reports indicate that the militants had attempted to breach the Pandanguo General Service Unit (GSU) camp but met a resolute defence by security forces. GSU is a paramilitary wing of the Kenya Police Service, consisting of highly trained police officers.
The same areas have been targeted repeatedly
This is not the first time the militants targeted the Salama village. In June of this year, a similar attack resulted in the deaths of five villagers and the destruction of six houses.
Similarly, militants also targeted the Lango la Simba area along the Lamu-Witu-Garsen highway earlier this month. About 60 al-Shabaab militants ambushed unsuspecting civilians, killing two people and injuring others. The militants hid in bushes alongside the road and frantically fired at passing vehicles. One of the cars carried a Hindi Member of County Assembly (MCA), Mr James Njaaga, and his family. Tragically, Njaaga’s wife sustained a severe injury on the head and died on the way to the hospital.
