Local police and security officials have confirmed the tragic incident, which took place at Koromey, near Hagarsu, when heavily armed assailants blocked the route and opened gunfire on a vehicle providing security escort for a critical road construction project.
Seven of the victims died instantly at the scene, while the eighth victim, the driver of the security vehicle, succumbed to severe injuries while being rushed to the Mandera County Teaching and Referral Hospital.
While no group has claimed immediate responsibility, multi-agency security forces have launched a massive manhunt and deployed reinforcements across the volatile border area to track down the fleeing attackers, as authorities work to secure ongoing infrastructure projects and protect workers in the region.
