GARISA, Kenya – At least one person was killed and three others seriously wounded after suspected al-Shabaab militants ambushed a patrol vehicle in Garissa County on Thursday evening.
Police said the 6 pm attack occurred along the Hagadera–Biyamathobe road near Toka Junction, an area long plagued by cross-border raids.
The victims were members of the National Police Reservists (NPR) and the Macawisley militia, a clan-based force that collaborates with security agencies to fight al-Shabaab in northeastern Kenya and Somalia.
One Macawisley fighter, identified as Mahammud Zeylici, died on the spot. The group’s driver and two others sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) hospital for treatment.
A firefight ensued as the NPR returned fire, forcing the attackers to retreat. Witnesses reported the militants were heavily armed with rifles.
Security Operation Launched
Security officials said a major operation has been mounted in Toka and surrounding areas, citing intelligence reports that militants had been sighted and were plotting further strikes.
Garissa County has remained vulnerable due to the porous Somalia–Kenya border, which al-Shabaab has exploited to stage ambushes on security forces, government workers, and civilians.
Authorities have also blamed local collaborators for aiding militant movements and attacks.
Longstanding Threat
The incident underscores Kenya’s ongoing battle with al-Shabaab, which escalated after the 2011 launch of Operation Linda Nchi, a cross-border offensive prompted by a wave of kidnappings, including the abduction of two Spanish aid workers from the Dadaab refugee camp.
Kenyan forces, later integrated into the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), dealt major blows to the group, notably the capture of the port city of Kismayo in 2012, cutting off a key revenue stream.
However, vast stretches of the border remain insecure, and Somalia’s political instability continues to fuel the insurgency.
