Police officers in Mandera County successfully repelled an attempted attack by suspected Al-Shabaab militants after gunmen targeted a security camp in Lafey Sub-County on Wednesday evening.
According to police reports, the attack occurred shortly after 7pm at the Jabi Quick Response Unit (QRU) Camp when about 10 heavily armed militants approached the facility from the north-eastern direction and opened fire in an apparent attempt to overrun the installation.
Security sources indicate the attackers launched their assault from approximately 600 metres away, testing the camp’s defensive positions before triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire with officers stationed at the base. Personnel from the specialised Quick Response Unit responded swiftly, forcing the assailants into a prolonged firefight.
The sounds of gunfire reportedly echoed across nearby villages and pastoral settlements, causing panic among residents. However, police confirmed that no casualties were recorded among security personnel or civilians during the incident.
The attackers later retreated under unclear circumstances, with security agencies immediately securing the area and launching follow-up operations to establish the identities and movements of the suspected militants. Standard security lockdown procedures were also activated at the camp following the attack.
The incident comes amid heightened security concerns along the Kenya-Somalia border. Just days earlier, suspected armed militia crossed into Mandera County and attacked Elgolicha village, killing two people and seriously injuring a woman.
