A six-year-old Kenyan boy was discovered abandoned in a forest in Somalia just hours after gunmen hijacked the vehicle he was in on Saturday evening in Mandera East, Mandera County. The boy was reunited with his family on Sunday after villagers found him wandering in the area, crying for help.
Police reported that the villagers located him about 20 kilometers inside Somalia and guided him back to the Kenyan border, where they handed him over to the authorities. This incident occurred shortly after al Shabaab ambushed and killed a government driver before hijacking his official vehicle in the Kamor area.
The driver was with two relatives, including the boy, when he was attacked on Saturday, August 10, officials stated. The boy’s mother reportedly jumped out of the car as the gang took control, shortly after witnessing her brother being killed.
The gunmen, believed to be al Shabaab militants, were armed with pistols when they carjacked a government Land Cruiser belonging to Deputy County Commissioner for Mandera East, Patrick Meso. County Commissioner Henry Ochako confirmed that the attackers ambushed the driver at Kamor in Mandera town, killing him before fleeing with the vehicle around 3 PM.
The assailants escaped with the vehicle toward the Somalia border, leaving the deceased’s body at the scene. A major operation was launched to recover the stolen car but was unsuccessful. Officials indicated that efforts were underway to contact authorities in Somalia for negotiations. Reports also suggested that one of the attackers might be a local who had joined the terrorist group.
Mandera Deputy Director of Enforcement and Head of County Installation Abdikadir Baricha noted that the incident occurred in the Ali-bililiqa area of Kamor.
“Regrettably, the driver lost his life during the incident, and the vehicle was later driven towards the Somalia border by unknown individuals suspected to be al shabaab.”
“It is imperative that all county drivers prioritize safety protocols and restrict unnecessary parking of county vehicles in town or bulas. Please note that the current security situation in Mandera town is unpredictable. Our ministries and departmental heads need to advise the drivers under their command,” he said.
He urged county drivers to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities. He advised that if anyone discovers suspicious items placed within county installations or surrounding areas, they should report them for their safety before attempting to interfere.
This incident follows a series of attacks believed to be carried out by al-Shabaab militants.
On Monday, August 5, multi-agency teams conducted several raids targeting al-Shabaab positions in Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa Counties. An intelligence-led operation was carried out at the borders of Mandera and Wajir counties, focusing on suspected al-Shabaab hideouts in the Iresqinto, Kutayu, and Boji areas. Several items buried underground were recovered, including AK-47 and PKM ammunition, medical supplies, drugs, and jerricans filled with water.
In Garissa County, a joint security team encountered about five suspected al-Shabaab militants in Adan Santur while responding to distress calls from locals whose camels were being forcibly taken by the terrorists. Two camels were recovered and returned to their grateful owners. The militants, some of whom were injured, narrowly escaped and crossed the border into Somalia in a bullet-riddled white Toyota Probox.
This surge in activity comes amid heightened security concerns that the terror group may be planning an attack after a prolonged lull. The border region has experienced numerous attacks from the militants, who are sometimes aided by locals. Somalia has struggled with instability since the fall of Siad Barre in 1991.
The terrorists have been known to plant explosives along routes frequently used by security agencies. Kenyan troops remain in Somalia to pursue and suppress the activities of the terror group, yet the militants continue to cross into Kenya to carry out attacks.
