MANDERA, Kenya – Five Kenyan quarry workers were killed in a suspected terrorist attack on Tuesday morning in Mandera East, near the Somali border, in what authorities believe was carried out by the Somalia-based militant group Al-Shabaab.
The attack occurred around 7:00 a.m. in the remote village of Bur Abor. Preliminary investigations and eyewitness accounts suggest the assailants were heavily armed militants who directly targeted the workers at a stone quarry site.
“This is a tragic security incident,” said Mohamed Abdi Aziz Roble, administrator of Bur Abor village. “The names of the victims are still being confirmed, and efforts are underway to notify their families.”
Local officials described the killings as deliberate and coordinated. The attack has raised fresh concerns about insecurity in the region, which has witnessed multiple cross-border incursions by Al-Shabaab in recent years.
Kenyan security forces responded swiftly to the scene and have launched a formal investigation. While no group has claimed responsibility, authorities say the assault bears the hallmarks of Al-Shabaab, which has carried out similar attacks targeting civilians and non-local workers in northern Kenya.
In the aftermath of the killings, the local administration, in coordination with police, has implemented heightened security measures aimed at safeguarding residents and transport routes.
“We are urging the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to security agencies,” Roble added. “Our priority is to restore calm and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Mandera County, located in Kenya’s northeast, remains one of the most volatile regions due to its proximity to Somalia and frequent militant threats.
HORN LIFE
