A local chief and a school teacher were fatally shot when unknown Al Shabaab militants launched an attack on residents in the Kenya-Somalia border town of Hulugho.
Hulugho Chief Abdifatah Gandhi died immediately after heavily armed intruders forced entry into his residence and riddled him with bullets, shortly after fatally shooting the teacher in a neighboring house.
The attackers, seemingly focused on eliminating the chief, also torched his parked Probox vehicle before departing his devastated home, while local security forces promptly arrived at the scene and exchanged gunfire with the assailants.
Initial investigations revealed that the gunmen, thought to have infiltrated from Somalia during the early hours of the night, had first taken a local woman hostage at gunpoint to locate the chief’s residence.
The militants then forced the frightened woman to lead them to the chief’s compound, where they shot the teacher, who was sleeping, before turning their attention to a room where the administrator had barricaded himself upon detecting the approaching threat.
According to Hulugho sub county Deputy County Commissioner Elijah Mutemi, the militants, apparently retreating from clashes with Juba Land Special forces, entered Kenya anticipating defeat before carrying out their assault.
He stated that security personnel, including Kenya Defence Forces troops, confronted the militants in intense combat, forcing the assailants to retreat into Boni Forest where an extensive operation was being conducted.
Nevertheless, Mutemi explained that the teacher’s identity could not be disclosed at the time of reporting, as he was neither a local resident nor of the Muslim faith, and his family needed to be informed first.
He mentioned that the chief was interred at Hulugho Muslim Cemetery following Islamic traditions, while the teacher’s remains were transported by military helicopter to his hometown in Mwingi sub county for funeral arrangements.
Hulugho Sub County Director of Education Ibrahim Odowa advised non-local teachers in the region not to panic but stay composed, assuring them that the death of their colleague was an isolated incident, although some were considering relocating due to security concerns.
Concurrently, the Hulugho border town remained on edge throughout the day as a security contingent, including military personnel, was dispatched to Boni Forest to pursue the fleeing attackers.
Eyewitnesses reported observing drones and helicopter gunships circling the dense forest while loud explosions from heavy bombardments shattered the tranquility that the quiet border town had experienced prior to the militants’ appearance the previous night.
The attack occurred amidst reports that approximately 300 Al-Shabaab fighters had been eliminated earlier in the week during ongoing clashes with Somalia’s national army and the Gor Gor special forces of Jubaland.
Intelligence suggests that defeated Al-Shabaab elements were crossing into Kenya via the Hulugho border to find refuge in Boni Forest, where one of their command posts was situated.
The report was filed by Mohamed Dahir.