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Al Shabaab raiders preach to Lamu villagers


About 100 suspected Al Shabaab militants on Saturday morning ambushed Basuba Village in Lamu East and preached to the residents for one hour.

According to a witness, who requested not be named, the militants invaded the village around 5am and forced the villagers out of their houses and started preaching to them.

“I saw a group of over a 100 armed men wearing jungle green clothes. Their faces were covered. Those who ordered us to gather in one place were about 20. The rest kept guard around the village and the bushes but we could hear and even see them. Among those who lectured us were four white people, two young women and two men,” said the resident.

He said the militants warned them not to inform police about their visit.

He said they also advised them against boarding police or military vehicles since they were the militants’ major targets.

“They said they didn’t have any problem with us but the military officers,” he said.

Another resident told the Daily Nation by phone: “They warned us not to try alerting anyone using our mobile phones since they would track the user of the mobile phone and kill him alongside his entire family.”

The militants left the village around 6am and headed to the vast Boni Forest.

FEAR OF ATTACKS

Lamu County Police Coordinating Commander Chrispus Mutali, however, said he had no knowledge of such an occurrence.

“I am not aware of that information,” he said in a text message to the Daily Nation.

Following the latest incident, residents of nearby Milimani Village have been reported to be leaving their homes for fear of attacks.

About 20 families had reportedly taken refuge in Bodhai, 14 kilometres form Milimani, by Sunday.

Bodhai Village has a military camp, police post and a Kenya Wildlife Service post.

“We have opted for Bodhai. The place is a bit secure as it has a military camp, police station and KWS post there. We are tired of the on and off Al Shabaab terror threats,” said Mr Ali Bawadh, a resident.

The incident come just days after an Administration Police officer was critically injured on Wednesday last week after a vehicle he was travelling in ran over an explosive near Baure military camp. The explosive is suspected to have been planted by the Al Shabaab militants.

On June 14, more than 60 suspected Al Shabaab militants raided Mangai Village in Lamu East and held villagers hostage in a mosque where they preached for over three hours.