{"id":4940,"date":"2026-07-30T08:58:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T08:58:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/livenation254.com\/?p=4940"},"modified":"2026-07-30T08:58:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T08:58:28","slug":"five-killed-as-suspected-jihadists-ambush-kenya-police-patrol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/livenation254.com\/?p=4940","title":{"rendered":"Five killed as suspected jihadists ambush Kenya police patrol"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Suspected jihadists ambushed a patrol in northeastern Kenya, killing five people, including four police officers, local officials told AFP Wednesday.\"\"<\/p>\n

The attack took place on Tuesday near the town of Lafey, about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the Somali border, in Mandera county, a region that has seen a recent surge in militant activity.<\/p>\n

According to a police report seen by AFP, four officers and a reservist from the elite Special Operations Group (SOG) were killed during an encounter with suspected fighters from the Somalia-based Al-Shabaab group while on patrol.<\/p>\n

Kenyan police spokesman Michael Muchiri confirmed the authenticity of the report but gave no further details.<\/p>\n

Two Mandera county officials, requesting anonymity for security concerns, said the patrol was struck by a powerful blast before coming under heavy gunfire, killing five people.<\/p>\n

“In this area (Mandera), they (Al-Shabaab) have a strong presence,” one of them said. “Everyone knows they are there.”<\/p>\n

Festus Chepkwony, the deputy prefect in the Lafey area of Mandera, confirmed the attack and said it was believed to have been carried out by Al-Shabaab, though he could not independently verify the death toll.<\/p>\n

The Islamist group has stepped up attacks around Lafey in recent months.<\/p>\n

Kenyan media reported that Al-Shabaab fighters attacked an SOG camp in Lafey in June.<\/p>\n

Last week, they also struck the settlements of Arabia and Fino, about 60 kilometres north of the town along the Somali border.<\/p>\n

“Al-Shabaab’s offensive operations have increased in the area and many residents are terrified,” one local official said.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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