The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Five police officers were killed Tuesday evening following an ambush by suspected al-Shabaab militants in Boni Forest, Lamu County.
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The officers, part of the elite Special Operations Group, were attacked in the Lehelo area while pursuing the militants believed to be planning a large-scale assault.
According to police reports, the unit had been tracking the suspects for two days based on intelligence indicating their presence in the forest. However, they encountered a well-coordinated ambush by heavily armed assailants, resulting in the deaths and injuries of five others.
The wounded officers were later airlifted to Nairobi for specialized treatment. Authorities believe the attackers also suffered casualties during the confrontation.
This incident is the latest in a series of ongoing attacks in the region, where multi-agency security teams have been conducting intensified operations under Operation Linda Boni to eliminate militant threats from the area.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who visited injured officers at Nairobi West Hospital on Labour Day, confirmed that five officers have recently died in anti-crime operations. He emphasized the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of police officers through reforms, better pay, and medical care.
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In recent months, suspected militants have been sighted in Lamu villages, where they reportedly lectured locals on Islamic teachings and warned them against cooperating with authorities. Police are urging residents to report any suspicious activity to help neutralize the threat.
Boni Forest and surrounding areas—including Masalani, Sangailu, Ijara, and Handaro—remain hotspots for al-Shabaab activity, with over 100 security personnel killed in IED attacks across Lamu, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera in recent years. These ongoing threats have slowed regional development, although government infrastructure projects like road construction and port development are underway to boost stability and economic growth.
