Weapons used to attack travelers in Mandera recovered

Weapons that were recovered during a counter-terrorism operation in Dabaciti, Mandera County.

Mandera: A counter-terrorism operation was staged in Dabaciti near El-Wak, Mandera County and six rifles with thousands of bullets recovered on Friday.

The weapons are believed to be the ones used to conduct attacks on travelers in Mandera.

Six AK47 rifles, rocket propelled grenades and launchers (RPG), bullets, pistols, and belts were recovered by the security units with vast knowledge on counter-insurgency.

Dabaciti area has been a hideout for the Al-Shabaab terrorists, specifically the ones involved in the criminal acts of murdering and terrorising travelers in Mandera.

Reports show locals in Dabaciti were aware of the presence of the terror cells and know the cell members both by name and origin, which signals a problem in community policing.

Local leaders have been criticising security officers for conducting operations in villages terming the operations as 'harassment' of the community members whereas community members know the criminals and their hideouts.

“There should be collaboration between the locals and their leaders and most important, a robust relation between the security officials and the local political leadership. These relationships will help destroy criminal and terror cells,” said one officer in the operation.

The teams on the ground were conducting intelligence-guided counter-terrorism operations in the area to destroy and dismantle terror cells deeply embedded in the border villages.

On Saturday, more personnel were deployed to the area with Deputy Inspector General of police Joel Kitili and his team visiting.

Officials warn that leaders are protecting these militias and castigating the security personnel instead of helping in the crackdown.

Mandera region is marred by clan politics and Al-Shabaab terror group cells presence.

The operation comes in the wake of renewed attacks, which have spread down to Wajir. On Saturday, a woman was killed after gunmen ambushed a private vehicle in Lafey.

The vehicle was headed to Lafey from Mandera when the attack happened, Wajir South MP Mohamed Diriye said. He added the militants held the vehicle with six injured occupants for hours.

He said the attack came hours after a group of militants overran Diff police station and stole weapons and bullets.

“We call upon the government to deploy more security forces in the region. Our people have continued to face threats from the Alshabaab due to the porous border which has been used by the militia to gain entry to the country,” Mr Diriye said.

“We have severally asked the military to relocate the camp to a strategic point near Somali border but our plea has fallen to deaf ears. We call upon the withdrawal of the camp at Diff area or relocate it towards Somalia border point because that is where these criminals gain entry to attack the people.”

The MP said tension remained high in the region following the attack as transport and business were closed down in fear of another attack.