Welders in Lamu county have been accused for cooperating with Al Shabaab militants in the region by helping them manufacture explosives.
According to the coast region coordinator John Elungata, welders in areas close to the Boni forest and the Lamu-Somalia border in the region are possibly colluding with the terrorists by supplying them with materials mostly metals.
These metals are eventually used by the militants to make improvised explosives and other paraphernalia that they use in their attacks.
The areas around Boni forest have no electricity and so Elungata said the only way the militants are able to make IEDs and other terror equipment which require electricity is if they are being supplied with the same from nearby towns.
On Monday, during a public baraza in Witu,Lamu west,Elungata directed all chiefs in Mokowe, Hindi, Mpeketoni, Kibaoni, and Witu vet and probe all those running welding businesses in their areas because so as to ascertain terror links.
In a damning revelation, Elungata revealed that they are following on leads that some welders in the county have actually been awarded tenders by al Shabaab to weld or fix Improvised Explosive Devices-IEDs before they sneak them back to the militant’s bases inside the Boni forest.
Elungata said most explosives that are used orchestrate attacks in various parts of Lamu are actually made in towns bordering the forest and not inside the Boni forest as has always been assumed.
“We are aware that some people here have been aiding terrorists by helping them manufacture explosives and other equipment which are used to attacks security personnel and locals. These are normally snuck back to the terrorists inside the forest,” said Elungata.
"FEEDING TERRORISTS"
Elungata warned that a section of the local community was also aiding terrorists by protecting, feeding and tending to them whenever they are injured during shootouts with security agencies.
“We know that even as security officers do their best to tackle the enemy, there are people here who have been helping the enemy instead of helping us defeat the enemy. We are aware and we have eyes on you. When we come for you don’t say you weren’t warned,” said Elungata.
In the same breath, the regional security boss revealed that the government is set to establish a KDF training camp in a move to tackle violent extremism in the region.
During the baraza, Elungata also directed the partial lift to ban forbidding night travel in region.
He however said only private transporters are allowed to ply the Lamu-Garsen road any time of the day and night owing to improved security.
Elungata however stressed that the night travel ban for all PSVs remains in force indefinitely as terrorists have always targeted them.
“The national government remains vigilant to any insurgent threats and is already building two new security roads so as to enhance the response of our security officers and ensure promptness whenever the need arises,”said Elungata.
Edited by D Tarus
