Gunmen kill two officers in Garissa

By Cyrus Ombati

Garissa, Kenya: Two police officers were Tuesday morning shot dead by unknown gunmen in Garissa Town.

Another officer is admitted at a local hospital in serious condition following the attack that took place at about 11 am. The gunmen who were on foot grabbed a pistol from one of the officers and escaped with it.

Witnesses said the attackers first threw a grenade at nine officers who were in a group before shooting at them.

“Two officers from the regular section died on the spot while an AP officer was injured and taken to the hospital,” a witness who survived the attack said.

Police said the officers were attacked near the local Post Office by gunmen who seemed to have been stalking on them.

According to North Eastern police boss Charlton Mureithi, the victims were on patrol in the town.

There was panic in the town as contingents of police went to the streets hunting for the gunmen with authorities there saying the operation will continue.

Apparently, the attack happened at the same site where two Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials were killed on March 26 in the town.

The two were killed by gunmen who escaped on foot.

Police and witnesses said the attackers confronted the two as they walked past the Post Office and opened fire at close range killing them on the spot.

The killing of the two officers was the latest in a series that have happened in the region in the recent months by gunmen who usually strike with impunity targeting security and government officials.

The attacks increased in the wake of the military raids in Somalia to hunt down Al-Shabaab militants.

Garissa Governor, Nathif Jama Adam insecurity will be the first priority for his yet to be formed county executive cabinet.

He said he is concerned with the attacks and vowed to address it. He spoke from Naivasha where he was attending a meeting.