Five Killed, Two Injured in Mandera Quarry Attack by Suspected Al-Shabaab Militants
Mandera, Kenya – April 29, 2025: Five people were killed and two others injured Tuesday morning in a violent attack on quarry workers in Burabor, Mandera County, in what authorities suspect was carried out by Al-Shabaab militants. The incident occurred around 6:30 a.m., leaving families and communities in shock as security agencies launched investigations and stepped up patrols in the affected areas.
Mandera County Commissioner Henry Ochako explained that the victims had left Mandera town earlier than scheduled, deviating from an established safety agreement between quarry operators, workers, and government security personnel. The group departed earlier than usual and without the agreed security escort, which unfortunately exposed them to the attack, he said. Typically, quarry workers report to sites during the day and return to Mandera town by nightfall to ensure their safety. Some workers managed to escape the ambush, while the injured were rushed to Mandera County Referral Hospital.
Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and promised that justice would be pursued. He confirmed that the bodies would be airlifted to their respective home counties for burial. This is a tragic loss. We are working with national security agencies to ensure that such incidents are prevented in the future, Khalif said. The county government and security forces are reviewing existing protocols to enhance protection for workers in vulnerable areas and prevent recurrence of such attacks.