Three Officers Injured as Al-Shabaab Launches Night Attack on Elite SOG Camp in Mandera
Three police officers were injured after suspected Al-Shabaab militants launched a daring night-time attack on an elite security camp in Mandera County, prompting a major security operation along Kenya’s volatile border with Somalia.
The attack occurred on Friday night at a Special Operations Group (SOG) camp in Fino, Lafey Sub-County, an area that has repeatedly been targeted by the Somalia-based militant group due to its proximity to the Kenya-Somalia border.
According to preliminary security reports, heavily armed militants stormed the camp and opened fire using Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and PKM machine guns in what authorities believe was an attempt to overwhelm the security installation.
However, officers stationed at the camp responded swiftly, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun battle that lasted approximately 25 minutes.
Security sources said the elite officers successfully repelled the assault, forcing the militants to retreat before they could breach the camp’s perimeter.
“The officers responded immediately and managed to contain the attack. The assailants were forced to withdraw after an intense exchange of fire,” a security official familiar with the incident said.
Three officers sustained injuries during the confrontation and were rushed for medical treatment. Their condition was not immediately disclosed.
Following the attack, security agencies launched a large-scale operation to pursue the militants who escaped into surrounding areas.
Authorities confirmed that additional security personnel had been deployed to reinforce the region as the manhunt continued.
“The operation to track down those responsible is ongoing, and security deployment in the area has been enhanced,” officials said.
The latest incident comes just days after another attempted attack targeting security personnel in the same sub-county.
On Wednesday evening, suspected Al-Shabaab militants reportedly attempted to attack the Jabi Quick Response Unit (QRU) Camp shortly after 7pm.
Police reports indicate that approximately 10 heavily armed militants approached the camp from the north-eastern direction and opened fire from a distance estimated at about 600 metres.
Investigators believe the attackers may have been testing the camp’s defensive capabilities before potentially planning a larger assault.
Officers at the facility returned fire, successfully repelling the attackers without any casualties or damage to the installation.
The back-to-back attacks have renewed concerns over the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab militants operating near Kenya’s border with Somalia.
Mandera County remains one of the regions most vulnerable to cross-border militant incursions, with security agencies frequently conducting operations aimed at disrupting terrorist networks and preventing attacks on both civilians and security installations.
The Special Operations Group (SOG), one of Kenya’s most elite counter-terrorism units, operates under the Border Patrol Unit (BPU) and works closely with the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and other security agencies to combat terrorism and secure the country’s borders.
Friday’s attack underscores the continuing security challenges facing officers deployed in frontier regions despite ongoing efforts to dismantle militant cells operating along the border.
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