Gunmen believed to be al Shabaab militants shot and killed a 13-year-old boy in an attack in Hagadera area, Garissa County.
The incident happened on Wednesday evening as the deceased and four others were headed for Hagadera from Hamey.
Gunmen who were on the road in Omar Mathahey area opened fire and hit the boy in the hip as the other passengers escaped unhurt.
He was rushed to Hagadera IRC Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The incident happened hours after a police vehicle was attacked on the same route leaving one officer injured on Thursday morning.
Officials warned there could be an increase in such attacks in the coming months after dozens of the terrorists were spotted in the area.
Police said the officers were on their way to Hargadera to pick up officers who had been off-duty when the incident occurred on January 4.
They said the officers managed to escape unhurt save for one whose hearing had been affected by the explosion.
The team was from Hamey GSU camp. The vehicle was extensively damaged on the front part after being hit by the explosion.
Security officers have since increased their patrols in the area as they pursue the attackers.
In November 2023, four officers were killed after their vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device on the Dadaab-Fafi road while on routine security patrol.
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.
