Somalia Returns Rifles Taken from Kenyan Officer Killed in Attack

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Authorities in Somalia have returned two rifles that were taken from a Kenyan police officer killed in an attack near the Kenya-Somalia border in Mandera County.

The rifles—a G3 and an AK47—were handed over to the Mandera security team on Saturday morning. However, police noted that some ammunition was missing. While the rifles originally held 90 bullets, only 10 were returned.

The handover came hours after gunmen, believed to be rogue members of a Somali security agency, allegedly carried out a deadly assault on Kenyan police officers at Border Point 4 in Mandera.

Police reports indicate that about 20 armed men ambushed five officers from the Border Police Unit on Friday, March 14. During the attack, Constable Dennis Omari was shot and killed instantly, while another officer sustained a gunshot wound to the left arm.

The injured officer is receiving treatment at Mandera Referral Hospital and has since been airlifted to Nairobi for further medical care.

The attackers reportedly seized the slain officer’s G3 rifle, which contained 60 bullets, and an AK47 rifle with 30 bullets before fleeing the scene. Authorities suspect the attack may have been motivated by revenge.

Preliminary investigations suggest the incident may be linked to the recent arrest of terror suspects allegedly involved in a failed abduction attempt targeting Chinese nationals working in Mandera. Police believe the assault could have been coordinated by a relative of one of the arrested suspects, who is reportedly an officer at the agency.

Senior police officials have visited the scene as part of ongoing investigations. Kenyan authorities have demanded the return of the firearms and the arrest of those responsible for the attack.

In response to these demands, Somali authorities informed their Kenyan counterparts that they had recovered the rifles and were prepared to return them. However, the suspects believed to be behind the attack remain at large. Somalia’s military has reportedly launched a manhunt for those involved.

GAROWE ONLINE