Police officers from the elite Special Operations Group
(SOG) on Monday morning stopped an attempt by eight suspected al-Shabaab
terrorists to plant Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along the
Welmerer–Yumbia road in Garissa County.
According to police reports, the operation followed a quick
response to information shared by local residents who noticed suspicious
activity in the area.
Acting on the tip-off, the SOG team rushed to the scene and
found eight men attempting to set up roadside explosives meant to target road
users.
Police said the suspects opened fire upon spotting the
officers, prompting a brief exchange.
The team managed to overpower them, disrupting their plans
and recovering assembled IEDs ready for detonation.
The explosives were later dug out from holes where they had
been planted and safely destroyed by the bomb disposal unit.
The militants, however, managed to escape into nearby bushes
during the confrontation. Security agencies have since launched a manhunt to
trace and arrest them.
Officers said the explosives, if detonated, could have
caused significant casualties and extensive damage to vehicles using the busy
route.
Officials noted that this latest incident highlights the
continued threat posed by al-Shabaab militants who frequently cross the porous
Kenya–Somalia border to carry out attacks inside Kenyan territory.
Ongoing joint
operations by security forces have been stepped up in Garissa, Mandera, and
Wajir counties to flush out the militants and dismantle their networks.
Police said local cooperation has been crucial in preventing
attacks, with residents increasingly reporting suspicious individuals or
activities.
They urged members of the public to remain alert and
continue supporting the fight against terrorism.
Garissa has in recent years been a target for terror cells
believed to operate from Somalia. However, constant surveillance and security
patrols have disrupted many of their plans.
Authorities say the coordinated community effort has
improved intelligence sharing, leading to more successful counterterrorism
actions.
Last week, suspected al-Shabaab gunmen ambushed a police
patrol in Dagahaley, Wajir County, killing one officer identified as Constable
Elijah Orwa.
The incident occurred on October 22, 2025, when Orwa and his
two colleagues, alongside National Police Reserve members, responded to a
shooting report along the Dagahaley–Mathabaquay route.
The officers, who were travelling in a private vehicle, were
caught in an ambush by armed attackers who opened fire from a hidden position.
A fierce gun battle ensued, forcing the officers to take
cover. Constable Orwa was fatally wounded and later found lying beside his
rifle, which remained loaded with ammunition.
Reinforcements arrived hours later due to fears that the
attackers were still nearby.
Police believe the gunmen were part of the al-Shabaab terror
network, which has continued to stage cross-border attacks despite ongoing
security operations. The militants have often targeted police officers,
security installations, and public service vehicles in the region.
Kenya’s security agencies have remained on high alert, with
the government maintaining a strong military presence along the border.
The country has been engaged in counterterrorism efforts
since Operation Linda Nchi, launched on October 14, 2011, after a series of
cross-border abductions threatened national security and tourism.
Officials say these sustained operations have significantly
weakened al-Shabaab’s ability to conduct large-scale attacks inside Kenya,
though small cells still attempt isolated strikes.
Police have vowed to continue pursuing those responsible for
Monday’s attempted attack and to ensure the safety of residents in the region.
