BY CHETI PRAXIDES
More than 80 suspected al Shabaab terrorists stormed Basuba village in Lamu East on Saturday and asked for cooperation, saying the residents are not their targets.
The heavily armed militants, who were in jungle green uniforms and masks, assembled residents at Basuba centre at about 5am and lectured them for more than two hours.
An elder who sought anonymity said they assured the villagers they would be safe if they worked with them.
The elder said they were warned against tipping off the police or volunteering information about terror suspects to security agencies.
“They said they didn’t want to hurt us and that they needed our help but that if we inform the police or military about them, they will come back and burn the entire village," the source said.
"They said their war is with the military and police in Lamu, not us. They promised we shall be seeing more of them and we shouldn’t we surprised when we do."
The elder said the villagers were told they would be hunted down, burned alive and their family members killed, if they gave the police any information.
The militants said they would "come back and set the entire village ablaze so that it’s an example for any other future traitors", the source said.
The terrorists further warned the villagers against boarding military and police vehicles saying they will be attacked, the elder said.
“They said if we board military vehicles we would be killed alongside the officers since they plan to kill and finish all of them in this region," the source said.
“A group was speaking to us while another kept vigil around the village. Among those speaking were two white men and two white women."
The source said vehicles do not reach the area so those seeking to go anywhere get lifts in military vehicles.
"Now we don’t know what to do. They said they will continue to plant landmines and that we can choose to die with the soldiers,” the elder said.
The militants reportedly escaped into Boni forest after speaking to the villagers, after which some families left on foot, for Bodhai, which is 14km away.
“Over 20 families have already moved to Bodhai since there's a military, police and KWS camp there. We can't stay here,” said resident Bolu Kailam.
The al Shabaab threat remains high in Lamu; the militants have reportedly taken over areas close to the Lamu-Somalia border, especially around Boni forest, including Basuba, Mangai, Milimani and Mararani.
The terrorists are also said to have set up permanent base inside the forest, which they now use as training grounds and a home for their families.
They are said to survive on wild game and water.
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