Al-Shabaab fighters at a training field. [Photo/ wargane.com]
The death toll in last week’s Al-Shabaab attack in Lamu has risen to six after three more bodies were found, bringing to 15 the number of lives lost in Lamu terror attacks within seven days.
The Somalia-based militant group has been intensifying attacks in Coast region as the country prepares to hold the August election.The opposition NASA has claimed the attacks could be engineered by leaders out to ensure low voter turn-out during the poll.In the latest attack on Thursday last week, Public Works PS Mariam El Maawy was kidnapped and wounded before KDF officer rescued her. She lost her nephew Arif Kassim who had been kidnapped with her.Arif’s body was among those found on Friday at the Mpeketoni sub-county hospital in Lamu West.His death brought to six the death toll from the 3pm road attack at Milihoi.The other two bodies are said to be those of two police officers and Maawy’s personal bodyguard.Arif went missing shortly after the attack as he accompanied Maawy on her road trip to Witu where she was to meet families displaced by terrorism.Reports indicate that Maawy was not targeted by the militants but found herself in the ambush as the terrorists took cover in the area.There are also reports that two KDF officers were killed as they rescued Maawy.Authorities in Lamu have, however, declined to comment about the development The Star reported Monday.The PS was shot in the leg, shoulders and in the hands and abandoned when the attackers discovered they were being pursued by KDF. The Pajero the PS was traveling in was torched.