Gunmen shoot dead policeman in Mandera town

Security agencies launched a major operation in Mandera town after a police officer was shot and killed in an attack by two gunmen.

Corporal Hassan Omar, 55 was on patrol in the area near Taqwa Mosque when he was confronted by two gunmen on February 25, police said.

The gunmen shot him twice in the head, killing him on the spot.

They escaped towards the nearby Kenya-Somalia border without stealing anything from him.

Police responded to the scene and found the lifeless body of the officer lying on the ground with his AK47 rifle that had 80 bullets next to it.

The motive of the attack is yet to be known.

A major operation has since been mounted in the border area.

Police said the gang is believed to have crossed from Somalia for the mission.

Two spent cartridges were recovered from the scene.

This comes in the wake of new attacks being staged by the al Shabaab militants who cross from Somalia.

Elsewhere in Dagahaley, Garissa County, a motorist was attacked and robbed of goods valued at Sh70,000 between Lanta Gasey and Wardeer settlement along Dabadeer road.

This is after gunmen stopped him on Thursday night. He defied the flagging, prompting the gang to shoot at his car.

This deflated the tyres, forcing the driver and two others on board to stop, alight and hide in bushes.

The gang ransacked the car and stole foodstuff and other valuables before escaping.

Police suspect the gang is part of al Shabaab militants roaming the area.

The gang has staged two attacks in the area, especially in Elwak, where a soldier from Kenya Defence Forces was killed Monday, February 24, in the morning, after an explosion caused by an improvised Explosive Device.

Five other soldiers were seriously injured in the attack. The attack was the second one in less than 24 hours.

On Sunday, a four-wheel drive car was badly damaged in the same area.

Officials said a joint patrol party involving KDF and Special Operations Group encountered a reinforced ambush, leading to the death of one KDF soldier at Qura-Qura 15 kilometers outside Elwak.

The other team escaped as they engaged the gang behind the attack in a gunfight.

Their vehicle was badly damaged in the Monday attack, officials said.

On Sunday, another security car encountered an IED in the same area, but no injuries were reported.

The area is near the Kenya-Somalia border, which is usually breached by the al Shabaab terror group.