Al-Shabaab sympathizers warned after Lamu attack

Residents of Kiunga village in Lamu East have faulted sympathizers of the Al-Shabaab militias for the increase in attacks in the area.

This follows spates of killings in the area that are believed to have been caused by the Al-Shabaab.

On Monday, 6 people lost their lives after an attack by the terror group.

One of the victims was shot dead, another was hacked to death while the other four were burnt to death in their house, police and survivors said.

The aggrieved residents claimed that some of their own were aiding the dangerous criminals thus sabotaging government efforts to pacify Kiunga, Mangai and Basuba areas.

"It is unfortunate that some of our people have turned accomplices and have been promoting terrorism hence threatening our safety and stability," said Dullo Ahmad, a resident.

The residents claimed that they have information on those alleged to be a party to the criminal syndicate and pledged to hand them over to security agents.

"Let the Al-Shabaab sympathizers stay warned that we know them and we will soon give their names to security agencies or deal with them," he added.

The latest suspected Al-Shabaab attack came barely a week after a boda boda rider died after he ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Nassir Ali Mohammed was transporting miraa near the Kenya-Somali border when his motorcycle ran over the device. He died on the spot.

Residents mourned Nassir as a philanthropist who came to the aid of fellow community members at the moment of need.

Residents termed Nassir’s execution as intimidation to Kiunga youths for their continued cooperation with the Kenyan security forces.

They vowed to continue with the same cooperation to help secure their homeland from terrorists.

Meanwhile, the government has launched a major multi-agency security operation within Boni forest, Mangulo, Taksile and Eldheere areas to flush out the Al Shabaab militants.

Residents say that they have witnessed military airstrikes within the forest as the operation to neutralize the militants take pace.

Edited by B. Marita