The government will continue holding eight suspected al Shabaab operatives arrested in Kotulo and Elwak areas, North Eastern region during a security operation.

North Eastern regional Coordinator Mohamud Salah yesterday told journalists that the eight were arrested in their hideouts and are being held in Mandera.

 

He said the suspects, all Somali nationals, had no documents allowing their stay in Kenya, adding that the operation was sparked by rampant attacks on residents and motorists Mandera-Wajir road by al Shabaab terror group.

 

"The ongoing operation is yielding fruit. We believe the individuals are behind the attacks that have occurred along the road,” said Salah, who claimed that some of the suspects have confessed to having been involved in some of the attacks.

 

"They have been cooperative. They even took us to the hideout they used as their retreat base.” Mr.Saleh said the operation being carried out in Kotulo in Wajir East and along the Kenya-Somalia border will continue for the next two weeks.

 

"Al Shabaab have changed their strategy of attacks. Our security apparatus have also changed tact to confront them head-on,” he said.

 

On December 27, last year, two officers were killed and one injured when the extremist group’s adherents ambushed them on the Lafey-Elwak road in Mandera. In the same month, an al Shabaab operative died when a bomb he was planting exploded. His four accomplices disappeared.