Friday, August 23, 2013
Kenyan troops on Tuesday killed several Al-Shabaab militants near the border town of Hulugho in Garissa County.
County commissioner Harun Rashid said the militants were gunned down as they tried to cross the border into Somalia.
The Al-Shabaab attacked an Administration Police camp at Galmagala division last Friday evening, killing four officers.
Mr
Rashid said the shootout between Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the
militants, who were wearing uniform similar to that used by Somali
troops, lasted more than four hours.
He said KDF and other security agencies had beefed up security along the border to avert terror attacks.
He did not state the number of Al-Shabaab militants killed.
The
commissioner said the security forces were also pursuing an Al-Shabaab
splinter group spotted near the border town of Amuma on Liboi side.
Meanwhile, normalcy has returned to Galmagala after more security personnel were sent to the area.
Residents had urged the government to beef up security in the area.
Speaking
to journalists at Galmagala town, village elders Yare Ali and Aress
Yarrow said it would be wise to recruit residents as Kenya Police
Reservists since they are more familiar with the local terrain and they
could easily track the milititants.
County executive
committee member in charge of Energy, Salah Yakub, drought coordinator
Mohamed Keinan and head of media and public relations Abdikadir Sugow
visited the area to assess the situation.
Governor
Nathif Jama Adam promised to closely work with the security agencies and
where possible provide financial resources to avert Al-Shabaab attacks
in the region.
“I will closely work with the security
which falls under the national docket and where possible provide
material and financial resources in order to protect the lives of the
ordinary citizens,” Mr Adam said.