Lamu county commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo. Security agents in his county have denied claims that police securing Boni Forest are harassing locals.] (Photo/Star]
Security agencies in Lamu county have denied claims that police officers are harassing locals in their search for Al Shaabab terrorists who are suspected to be hiding in the Boni forest.
Koreni residents in Lamu West had raised claims that police threatened to deal with them if ever there was an Al Shaabab attack in the area.
However, Linda Boni operation director Joseph Kanyiri and Lamu county commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo said police has received a tip off that there were illegal firearms in the village.
Kitiyo said if by any chance the villagers have illegal firearms, they should surrender them to police.
"Police are alert to flush out the Al Shaabab militants from the forest. None of the locals has been harassed but there are rumors some people in the village possess illegal firearms they should surrender them to police to ease the work of the officers", said Kitiyo.
The military had ordered people living near the forest to move away for the bombing of the forest to be done to flush out the terrorist hiding in the forest bushes.