- Somalia’s NISA officers allegedly attacked Kenyan police at Mandera border.
- One officer killed, another injured in the March 14 assault.
- Assailants stole two rifles from the officers before fleeing.
- Attack linked to Kenyan authorities arresting terror suspects.
- Tensions rise along the Kenya-Somalia border, with security forces on high alert.
A group of heavily armed gunmen, believed to be Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) officers, attacked Kenyan police along the Mandera border on Friday, March 14. The assault resulted in the fatal shooting of one officer and serious injuries to another.
The attack happened at around 11:20 am when 20 armed NISA personnel opened fire on five Border Police Unit (BPU) officers stationed at Border Point 4 along the Kenya-Somalia frontier.
During the attack, Police Constable Dennis Omari sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the stomach, while his colleague Wright Mokua was shot in the left upper arm. Mokua was immediately rushed to Mandera Referral Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
Gunmen Seize Rifles Before Fleeing
The attackers seized two rifles belonging to the officers before escaping. The stolen weapons include: A G3 rifle (serial number A00708) with 60 rounds of ammunition taken from the slain officer, an AK-47 rifle (serial number 5501352) with 30 rounds belonging to NPR officer Sadam Salat.
Security agencies have since launched a search operation to recover the stolen firearms.
Attack Linked to Terror Suspect Arrests
According to intelligence reports, the assault was a retaliatory act following a recent Kenyan security operation. Kenyan authorities had arrested terror suspects involved in an attempted abduction of Chinese nationals working on an infrastructure project in Mandera.
Reports from Somali authorities indicate that the attack was coordinated by a NISA officer whose brother was among those arrested in the foiled kidnapping attempt.
Security Concerns and Rising Tensions
The Kenya-Somalia border has long been a volatile region, frequently disrupted by: Armed militant activities, cross-border criminal networks, covert operations involving