The Government extends security operation to flush out Al Shabab in the forests.
Regional police commander Francis Wanjohi said on Wednesday
security officers have been mobilized, as tension remains over fears of eminent
attacks from Al Shabab from Somalia who
are believed to be still in the vast forest planning further attacks.
Wanjohi said they have enhanced vigilance to deal by
Al-Shabaab affiliate group Jeysh Ayman blamed for recent terror attacks in the
coastal region.
The police believe the insurgents are hiding in Boni forest
which is between northern region and coast.
Wanjohi said patrols along the Kenya-Somalia border have
been enhanced to deal with al Shabaab threats in the region.
"We are aware of the Al-Shabaab threats along the Kenya
Somalia border, and we established buffer zone to prevent them from crossing
over," Wanjohi said.
An estimated 3,000 people living near the forest were forced
to leave so that the operation could go ahead.
The forest borders the Indian Ocean and extends to the
Somalia border.
It is believed that some of the militants have been using it
in launching attacks in places like Mpeketoni where more than 60 people were
killed in June and July 2014.
The Islamist group from Somalia has carried series of deadly
attacks in northeastern and coastal regions of Kenya and other towns including
the capital city of Nairobi since the East African country sent it’s military
into Somalia in 2011 to subdue the Al-Qaida inspired group.
Kenyan authorities have also blamed the militants for being
behind spates of kidnapping of expatriates working in the sprawling refugee
camps in the incursion prone Northern region and tourists in the coastal
archipelago towns of Mombasa and Lamu.
But the insurgents have vowed to press on with its deadly
attacks on Kenya’s strategic interests until the government surrenders by
pulling out troops from Somalia.
The Government extends security operation to flush out Al Shabab in the forests.
Kenyan authorities have indefinitely extended a security operation to flush out Somali militants from the vast forest in the coastal town of Lamu due to renewed terror threats.