KDF foils attack in Lamu amid Al-Shabaab resurgence fears

By  Kalume Kazungu

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) troops have foiled a terror plot by detonating an improvised explosive device (IED) in Lamu’s Boni Forest.

The soldiers, under the Operation Amani Boni (OAB), a multi-agency security initiative meant to flush out Al-Shabaab terrorists hiding inside the dense Boni Forest, recovered the IED during normal patrols along the Baure-Milimani route on Monday.

The explosive, suspected to have been planted on the road by Al-Shabaab militants, was recovered at around 8am. It was safely detonated according to a commander in charge of the operation who requested to remain anonymous for security reasons.

“We’ve successfully recovered an IED within Baure area. Our soldiers were undertaking morning patrols and security surveillance along the Baure-Milimani route when the IED was discovered, possibly planted by Al-Shabaab terrorists. It was safely detonated. No injuries, nothing,” said the commander.

Lamu East Deputy County Commissioner, Hussein Simiyu noted that the sighting of the IED corresponds with information received about increased Al-Shabaab probings and sightings in Boni Forest in recent times. Mr Simiyu was, however, quick to add that security agencies were on high alert to ensure people and property are fully secured.

"The recovery of that explosive goes hand in hand with reports of sightings of Al-Shabaab remnants by our hunters and gatherer communities in Boni Forest in recent days but security is tight, fully investigating and combating just to ensure the area is maximally secured. There's no cause for alarm,” said Mr Simiyu.

An investigation by the Nation has also established that persistent, ongoing vigilance, disciplined route clearance procedures and intelligence-led operations have in recent times continued to frustrate terrorist attempts to disrupt security operations and endanger civilian movement in Lamu County.

In July, KDF troops in Boni Forest and towards the Kenya-Somalia border conducted a series of successful operations that also saw multiple terrorist plots thwarted. The operations involved the discovering and safely neutralizing of four concealed IEDs along Major Supply Routes (MSRs), along critical corridors used by both security forces and local communities in the area of responsibility.

The repeated recovery of IEDs along supply routes within Boni Forest underscores the continued reliance by terrorist elements on hidden explosive devices following sustained operational pressure that has significantly constrained their ability to conduct conventional attacks. It also highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations.

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