Police Foil Attack as 50 Al-Shabaab Gunmen Storm Lamu Village

Kenyan security officers on Saturday night foiled an attempted raid by a group od at least 50 al-Shabaab militants on a village in Lamu County.

The armed gunmen are said to have stormed Pandanguo village at about 10 pm and engaged police reservists in a shootout before officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) and the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) joined in. Villagers said the gun battle continued until 3 am Sunday morning when the al-Shabaab militants retreated after they were overpowered.

“A serious gunfight between the KDF, GSU, and NPR against the militants went on from 10.30 pm until 3 am when the militants were repulsed. They, however, managed to harvest almost all the maize in the one-acre farm before they fled deep into the dense Boni Forest,” Pandanguo Village Elder Adan Golja told Sunday Nation.

Confirming the incident, Lamu County Commissioner Irungu Macharia said the situation was contained and there was no need for alarm.

 “I urge Pandanguo residents not to vacate their village since their security is guaranteed,” said Macharia.