Four people were Sunday injured when 8 armed suspected Al-Shabaab militants attempted to overrun a Chinese Road Construction site in Shimbirey, about 50 kms from Garissa town.
Garissa County Police Commander Richard Kerina who was among the top security officers to visit the scene said swift response by the police on receiving tips of the attack helped save many lives.
According to terrified locals who spoke to the press on condition of anonymity, the hooded militants all armed with AK-47 rifles kidnapped a man from a nearby village and ordered him to take them to the Chinese Construction site camp.
One of the villagers is said to have tipped the police guarding the site and lay in wait for the attackers.
As they approached the camp, they started shooting indiscriminately prompting the workers who are housed outside the fenced camp to scatter for safety.
Kerina said security officers guarding the camp returned fire and in about 15 minutes were able to repulse the militants who fled to nearby thickets.
During the shootout, the wife to one of the security guards manning the gate was shot from behind and a bullet is said to be lodged next to her shoulder.
She was rushed to the Garissa County Referral hospital where she is admitted.
Kerina said her condition was stable.
The other three were injured as they ran for their dear lives into the nearby thicket.
The husband to the injured woman was among those injured.
Kerina said the police are pursuing the militants who are said to have escaped on foot towards Dadaab area.
“Traces of blood as they escaped on foot indicate that quite a number of them sustained serious bullet injuries and we are right on their heels. Sooner we shall catch up with them,” Kerina said.
“There is top notch coordination from officers in and around the area up to the border area and with the help of wananchi, we shall ensure that these criminals are arrested and brought to book,” he added.
Workers working with the company expressed their fears noting that they are vulnerable to the militants attack because they are not guarded by the security officers.
“We have always been living in fear of being attacked as opposed to the Chinese camp that is being guarded and has a perimeter fence around it.
Its high the time the government prioritises our security otherwise God forbid if the worst happened last light it could have been disastrous,” said one worker who requested not to be named.
Meanwhile, three suspected Al-Shabaab militants armed with Ak-47 rifles and several rounds of ammunition who were arrested in Hagadera refugee camp in Dadaab over the weekend have been transferred to Nairobi for further interrogation.
By Jacob Songok
Four people injured in Sunday Al-Shabaab attack in Shibirey, Garissa
