Security agencies in Mandera County remain on high alert after suspected Al-Shabaab militants attempted to attack a security installation in Lafey Sub-County on Wednesday night.
According to police reports, the incident occurred at the Jabi Quick Response Unit (QRU) Camp shortly after 7:00 pm when a group of heavily armed militants launched an assault on the facility.
Intelligence and security sources indicate that approximately 10 suspected Al-Shabaab fighters approached the camp from the north-eastern direction and opened fire from an estimated distance of 600 metres.
The attackers are believed to have been testing the camp’s defensive capabilities and security preparedness in what authorities suspect was a planned attempt to breach the installation.
However, officers stationed at the camp responded swiftly, engaging the militants with heavy counter-fire and successfully repelling the attack.
The militants were forced to retreat into nearby scrubland without gaining access to the camp or causing any damage to the facility.
Police confirmed that no security officers were injured during the incident and no casualties were reported among the security personnel.
Authorities also reported that the camp remained secure throughout the attack, with all critical installations protected.
Following the incident, security agencies activated standard lockdown and surveillance protocols as a precautionary measure while reinforcing patrols within the area.
The situation has since been brought under control, although security teams continue to maintain heightened vigilance amid concerns over possible further militant activity along the Kenya-Somalia border region.
Mandera County, which borders Somalia, has in the past experienced attacks linked to Al-Shabaab militants, prompting increased security operations and intelligence-led interventions by Kenyan security agencies.
Investigations into the latest attack are ongoing as authorities seek to establish the militants’ movements and intentions.
