NAIROBI, Kenya March 29 – Six Kenyan traders were brutally killed in a cross-border shooting on Friday.
The attack occurred in the Somalia border town of Dhobley, police said.
The victims were reportedly hawkers who regularly crossed the border to open their shops in Dhobley, a common practice for residents of the region.
Eyewitnesses reported that gunmen with covered faces, suspected to be Al-Shabaab militants, arrived in a white Probox vehicle around 7:15 am and opened fire indiscriminately on the Kenyan traders.
The sudden attack left four dead at the scene, while two others who sustained serious bullet wounds succumbed to their injuries during treatment at a local hospital, according to police.
Garissa County Police Commander John Samburumo confirmed the incident, highlighting the cross-border nature of the attack.
Investigations are underway, but local officials suspect the killings were religiously motivated.
The victims reportedly belonged to a Christian minority in the predominantly Muslim region, and reports allege they were accused of spreading Christianity in Dhobley.
This attack by suspected Al-Shabaab militants further intensifies the tension on the already volatile Kenya-Somalia border.
Garissa County has been plagued by increased terrorist activity by Al-Shabaab in recent months.
Last week, a multi-agency security team conducted an operation against Al-Shabaab, dismantling a base in Alango, Garissa.
The raid yielded a significant haul, including weapons, bomb-making materials, and the capture of several suspected militants.
Despite these efforts, the Dhobley killings expose the ongoing security challenges. The porous border with Somalia allows Al-Shabaab militants to operate with a degree of freedom.
The recent killings have likely strained relations between Kenya and Somalia, further delaying plans to reopen the crucial border crossing.
The incident has sparked fear and anger among Kenyan traders who rely on cross-border commerce for their livelihoods.
The Kenyan government faces mounting pressure to strengthen security measures along the border, crack down on Al-Shabaab activity, and bring the perpetrators of this horrific attack to justice.
