Wajir (Halbeeg) – An Al-Shabab suspect was on Thursday killed in a security operation in the outskirt of Wajir town, Kenya police said.
Kenyan security agencies have intensified operations against Al-Shabab fighters along Kenya-Somalia border following intelligence reports of imminent Al-Shabab attacks.
Wajir County commissioner, Lyford Kibaara who spoke to the media after the incident said Kenyan police on patrol engaged in brief gun battle with four Al-Shabab suspected fighters.
“The police killed one Al-Shabab fighter and wounded another in a brief battle with four Al-Shabab fighters,” Kibaara said.
The incident took place an area Mansa and Boji-Qaraas village in Wajir county.
Kibaara said the officers recovered loaded rifles and magazines fled by the suspects.
“The weapons of the suspects and several magazines were recovered after the fighters with their colleague who was injured,” he stated.
According to Kibaara, the body of the slain Al-Shabab suspect was taken to Wajir County Mortuary.
Round-Up
Mr. Kibaara blamed the local for helping Al-Shabab elements operating in the region. He said confidential reports confirm that the local supply food and water to suspects.
“I want to assure all of you that we will not leave the area until we find all the militants or those who sympathise with them,” said Mr. Kibaara.
The commissioner noted that any local found helping Al-Shabab will be treated as one of them.
“We want to warn supporting the terrorists that we will treat you as a suspect because we want these people to starve until they reveal themselves,” he said.
The logical leaders in region accused the law enforcement agencies of conducting arbitrary arrests against the locals.
Senator Abdullahi Ali Wajir East MP Rashid Kassim and Woman Representative Fatuma Gedi said it was wrong for the police to round up people, beat them and burn their houses and shops.
Mr. Kibaara denied claims of harassment of innocent people, saying their operation is targeting only suspected militants.
“We are not after innocent people at all so let them relax and co-operate with the officers in this fight and people should not worry about that,” he said.
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