By: Suleiman Abdikadir Hassan
NAIROBI—Kenyan soldiers killed seven Al shabaab militants on Monday as they took control of a town near the Kenya-Somali border.
The Kenyan Defense Forces [KDF] troops operating under the Amisom umbrella, said they were on a routine pacification in the general area of Badhaadhe when they clashed with the insurgents before gunning down seven members of the terrorist group.
“Today 24th, January 2017, at dawn, Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] soldiers operating under Amisom while on routine pacification operations in the general area of Badhaadhe, successfully launched an offensive operation on Al shabaab terrorist,” KDF spokesman Lt Col Paul Njuguna said.
Towards the end of last year and early this year, Al shabaab assailants briefly took over towns in the larger Mandera County where they’ve destroyed several communication masts and hoisted their flags.
Following the engagement with the terrorist who earlier took control of a mosque and a police station; Eight [8] AK 47 rifles and several rounds of ammunition were recovered alongside Al shabaab flags, magazines, IED cables, machetes and two 81mm bombs.
In a letter sent to newsrooms the KDF spokesman said the town is now fully liberated after the dawn operation.
“KDF soldiers remain vigilant and will continue to relentlessly pursue the terrorists to ensure peace and security of our country Kenya, as well as support AMISOM operations in order to stabilize Somalia.”
The Kenyan Army went to Somalia in October of 2011 after several kidnappings cases involving tourists and foreigners in Kenya.
