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Six Killed in Kenya Al-Shabaab Attack

At least six people were killed on Monday morning following an attack by al-Shabaab militants in the Widhu Majembeni area in Lamu County.

Police said the suspected militants also torched several houses in the attack before escaping.

One of the victims was shot dead, another was hacked to death while the other four were burnt to death in their house, police and survivors said.

Lamu police commander Moses Mureithi confirmed the death of the six and promised to share more details as they were still on the ground.

“We are working on the issue as we establish how many houses were burnt and people injured. We shall share more information soon but we have cordoned off the area trying to get the perpetrators,” said  Mr Mureithi.

The attack was anticipated by security agencies who said the gang had been sighted in the larger Boni forest and was on the move.

Tension remained high in the area amid fears of more attacks as security operations were mounted.

Officials who attended the scene said the Improvised Explosive Device had been set by al-Shabaab militants sighted in the area.

Boni Forest is an operation zone as the national government has since 2015 conducted a multi-agency security exercise dubbed Linda Boni, which is aimed at flushing out Al-Shabaab militants believed to be hiding there.

Kenya began the construction of the 700-kilometre long wall in 2015 to stop the militants from crossing into and out of Kenya.

The wall, which is known as the Kenya-Somalia border securitisation project is among others meant to secure the country from attacks by the Somalia-based al Shabaab terrorists.

The project plan includes having designated immigration and custom entry points with a two-foot-tall concrete wall fitted with CCTV cameras.

The plan includes the creation of at least 22 border posts on the border with well-equipped personnel to respond to any form of aggression.

Officials say once complete, the teams will be spread 40 kilometres apart to enable quick response to attacks from militants.

The fence especially in Mandera and Lamu has helped reduce incidents of attacks by the militants who often crossed at will.

Research by government security agencies says 30 per cent of the country’s security problems are traced to the porous Somalia border often penetrated by terrorists.

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