Six Police Officers Injured in Suspected Al-Shabaab Attack

Six police officers were injured on Friday morning, March 13, after a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) believed to have been planted by Al-Shabaab hit a police vehicle in Mandera County.

According to a police report recorded under OB No. 9/13/03/2026, the incident happened at around 6.30 a.m. along the Elwak–Wargadud Road.

Officers from Kenya Police Service based at Elwak Police Station were travelling to Udole Pit on a relief operation when the explosion occurred.

The officers were in a police Land Cruiser driven by Police Constable Hillary Kiplagat when the vehicle was struck by a directional IED as it overtook a passenger bus heading toward Mandera.

Six Police Officers Injured in Suspected Al-Shabaab IED Blast in Mandera

Police reported that the explosion was immediately followed by an attack from militants believed to be affiliated with Al-Shabaab.

Also Read: Detectives Thwart Al Shabaab Plot Targeting Kenyans in Major Nairobi Attack

The explosion caused significant damage, shattering the vehicle’s windscreen, breaking the side mirrors, and denting the doors.

Two rear windows of a nearby passenger bus were also smashed, though the driver reportedly fled the scene without stopping.

Fifteen police officers were travelling in the vehicle at the time of the attack. While most remained unharmed, several sustained injuries.

Security Forces Hunt Al-Shabaab Attackers

Corporal Kipkurui Kosgei suffered bruises on his left hand and general body pain, and driver PC Hillary Kiplagat sustained bruises and body aches.

Also Read: IG Kanja Issues Security Update After Suspected Al Shabaab Attack

Three National Police Reservists, Jibril Aliow Omar, Abdi Ali Issack, and Hussein Issack Mohamed, were also injured. Omar had bruises on both hands and the abdomen. Issack sustained a cut above his left eye along with body pain, and Mohamed suffered a cut above his left eye plus injuries to his abdomen and leg.

Another officer, Ali Noor Issack Sheikh, reported an injury to his right hand and back pain.

Security teams, including officers from the Kenya Defence Forces, later arrived at the scene and launched operations to pursue the attackers, believed to be linked to Al-Shabaab

Prior to this, a notable IED incident occurred on January 14, when two National Police Reservists were killed and two others injured in an attack on a patrol near the Kulun Border Point Four along the Mandera–Bulla Hawa axis, also attributed to Al-Shabaab.

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Photo of a police vehicle. PHOTO/NMG