A security flash alert confirmed that the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) of Hagadera, holding the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), and his driver were both killed instantly at the scene.
The two were travelling in a Toyota Land Cruiser registered to Hagadera Police Station when the vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) at approximately 6.50am on the Saretho-Dadaab main supply route in the Hagadera and Dadaab area. The vehicle was extensively damaged in the blast.
Al-Shabaab Suspected in Dadaab Blast The security alert attributed the attack to the Al-Shabaab terror group, though no formal claim of responsibility had been issued at the time of reporting. Hagadera and the wider Dadaab complex sit close to the Kenya-Somalia border, a region that security agencies have flagged as a recurrent IED belt targeting police, military and civilian vehicles. Authorities noted that the Dadaab-Saretho and Garissa-Dadaab roads have recorded repeated attacks on patrols and supply movements throughout 2026, including other recent blasts elsewhere in Garissa Country.
Security forces confirmed the scene was under control following the incident, with a follow-up operation launched in the area. Travel Warnings Issued for Saretho-Dadaab Route The alert flagged the threat of secondary devices, ambushes on first responders, and follow-on strikes along the same stretch of road. It rated the incident at a high level and cautioned that unescorted movement on the Saretho-Dadaab and Garissa-Dadaab routes carried significant risk, particularly during the early morning hours.
Authorities advised the suspension of non-essential travel on the Saretho-Dadaab route until security agencies complete a clearance operation. Members of the public were directed to stay away from the blast site. Organisations with staff or partners operating in Dadaab and Hagadera were urged to verify the whereabouts and safety of their personnel. Essential convoys were advised to adhere strictly to current security guidance and route clearance protocols. Security around Hagadera Police Station and the approaches to the refugee complex has since been heightened.
