Two feared dead after gunmen attack lorry in Lamu

Two people are feared dead after gunmen attacked a lorry at Mkunumbi, about 10 kilometers from Mpeketoni, in Lamu County on Wednesday evening.

A security officer at the scene of the attack said gunmen attacked the lorry at 6.30am and killed the driver and his conductor.

The officer, who talked to the Nation by phone but cannot be named as he is not allowed to speak to the press, said the gunmen also burnt the lorry.

The vehicle was heading from Mokowe to Mpeketoni to deliver medical supplies.

Police have denied reports that one of their vehicles that was on patrol in the area is missing.

Buses that were heading to Lamu from Mombasa were redirected to Mpeketoni as security personnel pursued the attackers.

“When we reached Mkunumbi, we were directed back to Mpeketoni. I could hear gunshots from Milihoi,” said Mr Said Hassan, a passenger on one of the buses who talked to the Nation by phone.

The director of Linda Boni Operation, Mr James Ole Serian, confirmed the incident but said he would give detailed information later.

The government launched the operation to flush out Al-Shabaab terrorists, who are said to have set camps in Boni Forest.

Mr Serian said security officers had been deployed to pursue the attackers.

He also said patrols would be intensified on the Lamu-Mombasa road to ensure the safety of travellers.

The Wednesday incident comes days after the government reduced the number of roadblocks along the Lamu-Mombasa road from seven to two to speed up the flow of traffic on the road.

Lamu County Commissioner Fredrick Ndambuki had announced that travellers using the Lamu-Mombasa road would be inspected at two major points.