Operation Linda Boni has proved successful since all the previous hotspots that had been used by the Al-Shabaab terrorists.
A villager peeps through an unfinished house in Bargoni, inside Boni forest in Lamu County on September 18, 2015. Security has been tightened along Kenya’s Lamu-Somalia border following aUGUST 27, 2016 attack that led to the killing of one person and injuring another at Ishakani, Lamu East. FILE PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP
By KALUME KAZUNGU
Security has been tightened along Kenya’s Lamu-Somalia border following Saturday’s terror attack that led to the killing of one person and injuring another at Ishakani, in Lamu East.
The two and other unspecified number of persons were said to be taking a patient from Somalia to a Lamu hospital before their unregistered Mitsubishi Vehicle ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) just two kilometers from Ishakani.
Speaking to the Nation on Sunday, Linda Boni Operation Director James ole Serian said they have deployed enough security officers in all areas along the Kenya’s Lamu-Somalia border and that the region is now under increased police and military security patrols.
“We have deployed enough officers in all areas of Ishakani, Ras Kiamboni and the entire Kiunga Division to pursue the attackers. The situation has been managed on the ground. People should not be worried,” said Mr Serian.
He dismissed media reports indicating that the Saturday attack involved a police vehicle and instead insisted that the vehicle which was attacked was from Somalia.
“We have not arrested any terrorist, neither have we recovered any riffle from the attack. What I can assure you is that we are doing our best to ensure the region is secured,” added Mr Serian.
He called on members of the public to volunteer information to security agencies conducting the Operation Linda Boni in order to enable for any criminal incidents be promptly dealt with.
He said the ongoing Operation Linda Boni has proved successful since all the previous hotspots that had been used by the Al-Shabaab terrorists to attack Lamu have been sealed off.
The Linda Boni operation was launched on September 11 last year by Interior Cabinet Secretary Maj (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery with the aim of flushing out Al-Shabaab militants believed to be hiding in the expansive forest.
“The recent IED attack took place in a very new location that has never before been attacked and that means the Al-Shabaab militants are now being forced to change their modus operandi. Our officers are alert and we will ensure all possible routes are sealed off completely,” he said.
The Saturday incident comes just days after Deputy President William Ruto toured the region on Monday and Tuesday and announced that the government had deployed more than 40 police vehicles and more than 10 armoured personnel carrier vehicles (APCs) to boost the security of Lamu and especially the ongoing Linda Boni Security Operation in the county this year.
Mr Ruto also said at least 1,500 military and police personnel have also been deployed in various parts of Lamu County to ensure citizens and property is protected.
Source: Daily Nation
