National Police Service Spokesperson Charles Owino told Capital FM News two police officers sustained injuries/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 30 – An unknown number of Al Shabaab terrorists Tuesday night attacked the Dadajabula Police Station in Wajir County, killing two detained terror suspects.
Two police officers sustained injuries during the fierce shootout that ensued.
According to National Police Spokesman Charles Owino, the attackers stormed the station after two members of the terrorist group were arrested and locked up.
Speaking to Capital FM News, Owino said officers on guard had to take cover since it was an ambush.
“It was during this period that the militants killed their colleagues,” Owino said.
“They (attackers) could not rescue them (suspects).”
The incident, according to a police report seen by Capital FM News, occurred at 8pm.
“It was dark, so officers dispersed into different directions,” reads the report.
The Kenya Defence Forces soldiers in a nearby camp were deployed in the area, in a bid to restore normalcy.
It is not yet confirmed whether the militants suffered fatalities or injuries.
Wajir county boarders Somalia, where Al-Qaeda-linked militants have been battling to regain control over areas it lost to peace keeping mission deployed to restore order in the country.
An incident report filed at the Liboi Police Station after an incident on October 12 indicated the police Landcruiser was ran though the explosive device planted on the road at about 4pm/COURTESY
Al-Shabaab terrorists have often sneaked to border towns in Kenya launching pockets of attacks, mostly targeting security agencies.
Terrorists have also planted Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on patrol routes used by police and Kenya Defence Forces.
On October 12, the country lost 11 General Service Unit officers, after their vehicle hit an IED in Garissa County.
The officers were on patrol along Damajale Harehare road, when the incident occurred at 5pm.
In the past a few years, there have been increased IED attacks that have claimed lives of tens of law enforcers.
This is despite Kenya acquiring tens of Armored Personnel Carriers (APC).
While they were meant to be deployed in hostile regions like the Northern Kenya, they are rarely seen on patrol.
For example, the 11 slain officers were not in APCs, despite the prevailing dangers.
On September 17, the National Police Service came out to defend tens of APCs acquired from China in 2017, amidst sharp criticism following various attacks that have left tens of security officers dead over time.
Owino said the said vehicle can only resist specific calibers of ammunition unlike Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, which he said resist mines and rocket propelled grenades.
He, however, said the Police Service is also equipped with Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles.
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