Suspected Al-Shabab militants have killed a father and his son at Jabibar village along Rhamo-Elwak road in Mandera county on Saturday morning, Kulan Post understands.
Ali Abdi Baricha, 38, was returning to his workstation in Wajir after a two-week break. He was an engineer at Kenya Rural Roads Authority for more than a decade. His son, 12, was a candidate in the just concluded Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE)
Mandera County Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha said the two were killed in their Toyota Land Cruiser on their way to Wajir town.
“A land Cruiser was ambushed by suspected Al-Shabab militants between Jabibar and Bambo villages on its way to Wajir. Unfortunately, two occupants died on the spot,” said Kyatha told the press on phone.
An eyewitness told The Standard that the deceased’s heads were blown off, an indication they were sprayed with bullets at a close range.
Also on the same ride were two National Police Reservists officers who boarded the ill-fated vehicle from Jabibar village to Bambo location. The two are receiving treatment at the Mandera Referral Hospital.
“The (NPR) officers engaged the gunmen in a fierce battle at Toosi Jaay sub-village before being overpowered, forcing them to retreat,” a police report seen by Kulan Post said in part.
On Thursday, suspected Al Shabab militants have earlier today intercept a vehicle belonging to an NGO called “Action Against Hunger.” A police statement seen by Kulan Post indicates that the car was transporting food supplements at the time of the incident. Both the driver and the vehicle are still missing.
“Toyota Hilux double cabin Vehicle, reg. no. KAU 033J green in colour was today morning at around 10.00a.m hijacked by AS militants at Gesrebki Teno area and driven off to Wable area in Somalia border,” the police reported.
It continued that: “The car was hired by Action Against Hunger NGO and was transporting food suppliments called plumpy nuts or Malado to Gesrebki Teno village of Falama Sublocation, Garsesala Location. The village is situated along Falama -Elram road and very close to the Somalia border. The militants went with the driver and vehicle.”
Last month, an ambulance with four occupants including a patient was intercepted by the militants and driven across the border. Two days later, all the occupants were released. Mandera County Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha thanked a cross-border agreement with their Gedo Region counterparts for “facilitating the release.”
