Wednesday October 29, 2025
Some of the items recovered during the operation.
Garissa (HOL) – Kenya’s elite Special Operations Group (SOG)
police unit on Tuesday thwarted an attempt by suspected al-Shabaab militants to
plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along the Welmerer–Yumbia road in Garissa
County.
According to police reports, the operation was launched
after local residents reported suspicious activity in the area. Acting swiftly
on the tip-off, SOG officers moved to the scene and found eight men attempting
to plant roadside explosives aimed at targeting road users.
Police said the suspects opened fire upon noticing the
approaching officers, sparking a brief exchange. The SOG team managed to repel
the attackers, seizing assembled IEDs that were already set for detonation. The
explosives were later unearthed and safely destroyed by bomb disposal experts.
While the militants escaped into nearby bushes during the
confrontation, security agencies have launched a manhunt to track and arrest
them. Officers noted that the explosives, if detonated, could have caused heavy
casualties and major damage along the busy route.
Officials said the incident underscores the continued threat
posed by al-Shabaab militants who exploit the porous Kenya–Somalia border to
stage attacks in northern Kenya.
Security operations have since been intensified across Garissa,
Wajir, and Mandera counties, with joint forces working to dismantle militant
networks. Police commended residents for their growing cooperation in reporting
suspicious activity, saying community vigilance remains key in preventing
attacks.
Authorities urged the public to remain alert and continue
sharing information that could aid in counterterrorism efforts.
The latest incident comes just days after suspected
al-Shabaab gunmen ambushed a police patrol in Dagahaley, Wajir County, killing
Constable Elijah Orwa on October 22, 2025. Orwa and his colleagues were
responding to a shooting report along the Dagahaley–Mathabaquay route when they
were attacked.