- Over 60 armed militants raided Basuba village in Lamu County at night
- Attackers fired RPGs, targeted a GSU camp, and shot indiscriminately
- Residents spent the night in fear as gunfire rocked the area
- No casualties reported; manhunt launched in Boni Forest
Residents of Basuba village in Lamu were left in panic on Friday night after more than 60 Al-Shabaab militants staged a coordinated attack. The assailants struck at around 9 pm, shooting indiscriminately and targeting the nearby General Service Unit (GSU) camp.
One group of militants surrounded the GSU base while another opened fire inside the village. At least four rocket-propelled grenades were reportedly fired during the attack, with one hitting a civilian house.
Terrified locals dropped to the ground for cover as gunfire echoed through the night. Families stayed alert and awake, unsure if they would survive the night.
“It was like a war zone. We couldn’t sleep. We stayed alert the whole night, not knowing if we would make it to morning,” said one resident.
GSU officers are said to have repelled the militants in a fierce gun battle lasting over an hour before the attackers retreated into the dense Boni Forest.
No injuries or deaths have been confirmed, but the attack has triggered a massive security response. Elite units have been deployed to pursue the fleeing militants, with aerial and ground surveillance focused on the forest.
The Boni Forest, long suspected to be a key Al-Shabaab hideout, continues to pose a challenge to security efforts in the coastal region.
Authorities have called for public vigilance and promised continued reinforcements to restore calm and ensure residents’ safety.
