Somali militant group al-Shabab on Sunday morning killed a Kenyan police reservist in the northeast border town of Mandera.
Regional Police Commander Rono Bunei who confirmed the incident, said one militant was also killed when the gunmen raided the town after trying in vain to bring down a communication mast but met with resistance from the security on the ground.
Bunei said after the militants unsuccessfully tried to bring down the mast, they then kidnapped the reservist and vanished with him. His body was later discovered a few kilometers away. Police said the attackers escaped with his gun.
“One soldier (Kenya Police Reservist) by the name Abdi Maalim was reported missing and later found dead. His gun was taken away by the gunmen,” said Bunei.
Bunei added that the security teams in the area killed one of the attackers. “We believe others escaped with injuries,” he said.
Mandera County Police commander Jeremiah Kosiom also confirmed a Kenyan police reservist and an al-Shabab militant were killed.
The incident happened hours after al-Shabab raided a neighboring village.
Kosiom said security has been beefed up in the area following numerous attacks targeted on innocent members of the public.
The Somali militants have been abducting civilians and also targeting security vehicles either by laying an ambush or planting explosives on the road in the northeast region especially in Mandera and Garissa counties. A number of civilians and security personnel have died as a result of such attacks.
