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Suspected Al-Shabaab militants kill six police reservists in Garissa

Al-Shabaab

Al-Shabaab fighters

Photo credit: File | AFP

By  Manase Otsialo

Correspondent

At least six people were killed on Sunday after suspected Al-Shabaab militants attacked a national police reserve camp in Fafi, Garissa County.

Confirming the incident, area Deputy County Commissioner Naphtali Koojo described the 5:30am incident as unfortunate.

"We have always carried out security patrols in the area coordinated by special units, but what happened today is very unfortunate," Mr koojo told the Nation on phone.

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According to Mr Koojo, the assailants attacked the camp with Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), killing six and injuring four others on the spot.

"The militants are within and very tactical in their operations. They hit and hide," he said.

Reinforcement could only come from Yumbis security camp that is 20 kilometres away despite the area being a marked terror hotspot. It remained unclear how the NPRs only armed with AK47 rifles were allowed to set a security camp.

"The NPRs are poorly armed and remunerated. Allowing someone with an AK47 rifle to fight an enemy with RPG and other sophisticated weapons is unimaginable," Mr Ali Gubow, a resident of Garissa, said.

The latest intelligence report shared a week ago indicated increased presence of militants in Fafi sub-County.

"Credible intelligence report indicates that Al-Shabaab militants are planning to conduct coordinated decisive attacks code named "BAD RVICTORY" in North Eastern Region, particularly within Garissa Township and Fafi Sub sector", read the report .

It further stated that there was notable increase in tactical cross-border infiltration by the Al-Shabaab battle teams into the inner enclaves of Fafi sub-County.

Already, the militants had reactivated their former makeshift camps in Mamabute, Kamorjilla and Dakajila areasand for this attack, they are reported to have outsourced logistics from Hagadera.

On Friday, special security groups are reported to have clashed with a group in the neighbouring Ijara Sub County.

Residents later claimed that security agencies killed a herder and injured several others in the incident near Boni forest.