An ambulance carrying two patients was on Sunday blown off by an Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) killing three people on the spot while injuring two others at Qorahindi along the Sangailu-Hulugho road, Garissa County.
The driver of the ill-fated vehicle and a patient were killed during the attack carried out by suspected Al Shabaab militants, two other victims, a Kenya Police Reservist (KPR) and a patient were critically injured.
The patients, one in critical condition were being taken to Hulugho sub county hospital when the heinous incident happened.
Confirming the incident, the Hulugho Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Bernard Ole Kipury condemned the incident, saying it is very sad for patients who are critically sick and being ferried to hospital to be attacked.
The Administrator added that the attack might be linked to last week’s incident where Special Forces killed six Al-Shabab terrorist and captured one in Motile area hence mounting a revenge mission.
Ole Kipury informed that a team of Special Forces and KDF were immediately dispatched to the area and the border with Somalia sealed to avoid any escape or more infiltration by other terrorists.
The DCC said the Al-Shabab were changing tactics by attacking soft targets such as one of the ambulance and innocent public, noting that previously they used to attack security vehicles.
Ole Kipury announced that the government would train more KPR personnel and provide arms to enable them hunt down the Al-Shabaab.
Worried but angry residents of Holugo and Ijara Sub-counties are appealing to the government to arm them and give them a go ahead to flash the Al-Shabab from the area and from there hideout in the thick Boni Forest.
The deceased were ferried to Sangailu for burial and the injured, airlifted to Garissa County Referral Hospital.
By Mohamed Dahir
