UPDATED: Al Shabab waylay bus heading to Mandera, kill 8 non-locals

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WAJIR—At least eight people are feared dead after Somalia based militant group Al Shabab waylaid a passenger bus at Wargadud village, Tarbaj in Wajir County. The village occurs between Wajir and Mandera counties.

Local journalists report that militant ordered the passengers to alight. They later divided the passengers and killed the non-locals at point-blank.

The ill-fated bus left Nairobi last night and was heading to Mandera town.

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At 2100Hrs

Mandera Governor Ali Roba condemns the attack, saying death toll hit 10. He also condoled with the victims.

”I am deeply saddened to learn of the heinous bus attack near kutulo wajir today around 5 P.M where 10 passengers were killed.

I am informed that the attackers who are suspected to be Alshabab attacked in a cowardly segregated manner targeting non-locals heading to Mandera from Nairobi. It is extremely sad and humanly disturbing to learn that, yet again , they segregated locals from non-locals before killing those they believed to be non- locals.

Even though the Attack happened in wajir, all the victims are residents of our beloved county of Mandera.

I would like to share my sincere heartfelt condolences with the families and friends of the victims of the bus attack. May the Almighty Allah comfort you, ease your pain and grant you peace.”

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At 2200Hrs

The National Police Service confirms the report but declines to state the actual number of the casualties in a statement released at 10 pm local time.