Somalia Returns Rifles Seized From Slain Kenyan Police Officer

Somalia has returned two rifles taken from a Kenyan police officer killed in an ambush. The handover occurred after an attack by armed men, resulting in one officer’s death and another injured. While the rifles were returned, a significant portion of their ammunition was missing, and investigations suggest a potential motive linked to recent terror suspect arrests in the area.

Somali authorities have returned two rifles that were confiscated from a Kenyan police officer fatally attacked near the Kenya-Somalia border in Mandera County. The arms, a G3 and an AK47 rifle, were handed over to the Mandera security team on Saturday morning. Despite the return of the rifles, some ammunition was missing; initially, there were 90 bullets, but only 10 were recovered.

The handover occurred shortly after an attack on March 14, when roughly 20 armed men ambushed five officers from the Border Police Unit. During this incident, Constable Dennis Omari was killed instantly, and another officer sustained a gunshot wound. The injured officer has since been treated at Mandera Referral Hospital and subsequently airlifted to Nairobi for further medical attention.

The attackers are believed to have taken the slain officer’s weapons during the assault. Authorities suspect that the attack may have been revenge-driven, potentially linked to the recent arrest of terror suspects associated with an attempted abduction of Chinese nationals in Mandera. Investigations suggest that the assailants may have connections to a relative of one of the detained suspects.

Investigators, including senior police officials, have visited the attack site, and the Kenyan authorities have demanded the return of the firearms as well as the apprehension of the attackers. Following these requests, Somali authorities communicated their recovery of the rifles and readiness to return them. Nonetheless, the suspects involved in the attack continue to evade capture, prompting Somalia’s military to initiate a manhunt for those responsible.

In summary, authorities in Somalia have returned two rifles taken from a slain Kenyan officer following a deadly ambush. While the rifles were returned, significant ammunition was missing. The attack is suspected to be linked to recent arrests related to terrorism, underlining the complex security challenges along the border. The hunt for the attackers continues, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region.

Original Source: www.the-star.co.ke