LAMU, Kenya –At least five police officers were killed on Tuesday evening in a fierce clash with suspected al-Shabaab terrorists in Boni Forest, Lamu County.
Five other officers from the elite Special Operations Group (SOG) were also injured during the ambush, which occurred in the Lehelo area.
The police unit had been trailing a group of militants for two days after receiving intelligence that the terrorists were hiding in the forest and planning a large-scale attack.
However, as they closed in, the team was ambushed by a larger group of militants who had been lying in wait, leading to the deadly confrontation.
Authorities believe there were also casualties on the attackers’ side, although no specific details have been confirmed.
The injured officers were later airlifted to Nairobi for specialized medical treatment.
This attack is the latest in a series of assaults in the area, with multi-agency teams currently engaged in efforts to address the growing threat posed by terrorist activities in the region.
In a show of solidarity, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen visited the injured officers at Nairobi West Hospital on Labour Day (Thursday, May 1, 2025).
Murkomen revealed that nine police officers had been injured across various regions of Kenya in the ongoing fight against crime, with one officer also injured in Haiti.
The Cabinet Secretary also disclosed that five police officers had died in recent operations across the country.
“Our security officers sacrifice a lot to keep us safe and secure, and they need our support,” Murkomen said during the visit, which was attended by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, DIG (KPS) Eliud Lagat, and DIG (APS) Gilbert Masengeli.
Murkomen reiterated the government’s commitment to improving police welfare through reforms that include better working conditions, enhanced pay, and improved medical care.
Nine officers sustained injuries in the fight against crime in various parts of the country, while one was injured in Haiti. ynews.digital/newsflash/cs-m…
The Boni Forest region has long been a hotspot for terrorist activity, with al-Shabaab militants carrying out repeated attacks targeting both locals and security personnel.
In the months preceding this latest assault, locals reported that gunmen had invaded villages, lecturing residents about the importance of respecting Islam and warning them not to cooperate with the government or security forces.
Witnesses to these earlier incidents said the militants, armed with AK-47 rifles and wearing hoods, had threatened the locals, cautioning them against alerting authorities to their presence.
In response to the growing threat, the government has implemented a special operation, Operation Linda Boni, which aims to flush out terrorists from the forest.
The operation, which covers regions such as Masalani, Sangailu, Ijara, and Handaro, seeks to restore peace and stability to an area that has witnessed numerous terrorist strikes.
One of the most devastating attacks occurred on the night of June 15, 2014, in Mpeketoni and Kibaoni, where more than 90 people were killed.
Despite the government’s efforts to develop the region, including the construction of roads, ports, and social amenities, the ongoing terrorist activity continues to disrupt both security and economic development in Lamu, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties.
In light of the recent attacks, police have called on locals to cooperate and share information with security agencies to help flush out militants hiding in the area.
The government has pledged to continue efforts to address the security threats and improve the region’s economic prospects.
Five Quarry Workers Killed in Suspected Al-Shabaab Attack in Mandera East ynews.digital/newsflash/five…
