Three construction workers injured in Mandera IED attack

Three workers of a road construction company were on Thursday injured when a vehicle they were traveling in was hit by an explosive device in Mandera County.

The incident happened at Dadach Qatarow, between Ires Kinto and Domog along Wargadud- Takaba Road, police and survivors said.

The workers belonging to Frontier Construction Company were driving towards Wargadug when their vehicle ran over an Improvised Explosive Devise, which set off a fire on the car.

The workers complained of multiple injuries especially on their legs and hands.

Police who responded to the scene said they did not find those behind the incident.

The area is near the Kenya-Somalia border, which is usually breached by al-shabaab terrorists.

The attack is another of a series of attacks in the area in the past month, including one where the perpetrators destroyed a communication mast using explosives.

They also stopped, checked public service vehicles and lectured passengers while looking for non locals.

North Eastern police boss George Sedah said they had deployed additional personnel to pursue the gang operating in the area.

There have been calls on locals to help security agencies to tame such attacks.

The latest attacks come after a long lull, which was due to persistent security operations in the region and near the Kenya-Somalia border.

Dozens of special forces are in the region stretching from Mandera to Lamu to help secure the border from incursions from the terrorists.

The terrorists have been targeting security installations in the area.

The border region has borne the brunt of repeated attacks from the militants who are at times aided by locals.

Somalia has not had a stable government after the fall of Siad Barre in 1991.

Al-Shabaab terrorists have been attacking places in the region especially in Mandera and Garissa counties after breaching security zones. The attcks have left dozens of civilians and security officials dead and wounded.