The whereabouts of one police officer who was among twelve others who engaged Al-Shabaab insurgents in a fierce gun battle in Elwak is yet to be established.
The contingent confronted the insurgents who attempted to hijack a passenger bus at Gobo along Dabacity Elwak route.The officers were escorting the bus.
Two police landcruisers were burnt down by the militants and another officer lost his G3 rifle during the fire exchange in the bush.
Another officer sustained a bullet injury on his leg.
“One officer got lost in the bush and is yet to be accounted for. Security has been beefed up in the area.” A senior officer said.
They were escorting a passenger bus from Kotulo to Elwak.
On reaching Gobo, they were informed that there were Al Shabaab insurgents and disembarked from the vehicles to conduct foot patrol.
They were attacked with a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) and quick gun succession by militia men numbering to about 100.
Kenya Defence Forces troops deployed reinforcement and managed to repulse the attackers.
Mandera County remains one of the volatile areas due to terrorist threats.
Last year, over fifty terrorists attacked Hamey Police Station at midnight in two Land cruisers but security officers repulsed them.
The Northern Kenya has suffered numerous terrorists attack by the Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab terror network coupled by porous Kenya-Somalia border.
Police say the militants are sneaking into the country disguising themselves as herders.
