Four suspected al Shabaab militants were shot and killed on Sunday after security officers tracked a stolen National Police Service vehicle to Boni Forest.
Kenya Defence Forces military spokesman Col. David Obonyo said the vehicle, which had been stolen in December last year in Lamu County, was recovered by a multi-agency security team patrolling the vast forest in an intelligence-led operation. The team also recovered four AK47 rifles, three improvised explosive devices and other assorted ammunition.
“Security forces patrolling the Kenya-Somalia border along Boni Forest picked up the trail and engaged the terrorists in a gunfight. Four of the suspects were killed, while two managed to escape with bullet wounds,” Obonyo said in a statement, adding that police then recovered the stolen Ford Ranger vehicle along with the weapons and explosives. They pursued the other suspects who escaped into the forest.
A major operation has been launched to track the militia, who are believed to be behind the recent attacks on security personnel in Boni Forest. The attacks include the planting of IEDs, which blew up a police vehicle killing seven administration police officers last week in Lamu County.
