Mandera (Halbeeg News) – Suspected al-Shabaab fighters have reportedly hijacked an ambulance in Mandera county near Kenya’s border with Somalia.
According to police statement, the occupants of the ambulance are missing. The ambulance was ferrying patients to a hospital in Elwak, Mandera County.
The attack took place as a driver raced with a patient and two paramedics on board on Tuesday evening.
Police said a major operation launched later on did not bear fruits as the attackers had crossed the border to Somalia with the Kenyans.
All the victims are locals and there are high chances they will be released, officials involved in the search said.
By Wednesday, no word on the missing persons had been received from Somalia, police said.
Witnesses and police said the four included two paramedics based at Lafey Sub-County hospital, a patient, and the driver of the ambulance and were en route to Elwak hospital for referral services.
The four were identified as the 40-year-old patient-Moulid Abdi, Hassan Shaaban (driver), Abdirashid Billow Hussein and Aden Dai, both of whom are staff at Lafey hospital.
North Eastern police boss George Seda said the incident happened at about 5.50 pm.
He said the victims were driven towards Somalia through Komar Qota near Wante area.
“We have contacted the administration on the other side in efforts to secure the release of the four Kenyans,” he said.
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