Last week reports were going round that Al Shabaab are planning an attack and that the police are taking in few coins to let them in. The police was quick to refute the claims. A week later ,their is an attack. Why do they keep ignoring signals?
Al Shabaab have devised means to make sure they continue in terrorizing residents. They are determined to sabotage the festive season.
The President said the country is not immune to terrorists attack and it is indeed.
This are the tactics used by Al shabaab to attack Malindi and abduct the Italian volunteer.
Eight gunmen attacked 23-year-old Italian Silvia Romano in her rental house in Chakama village at 7pm.The attackers had rented a local lodging three days earlier, less than 20 metres from Silvia’s house. The village is in a remote area, more than 80km from Malindi town.
The attackers are believed to have been on a mission to kidnap the foreigner. Silvia is the manager of African Milele Onlus. She stays in the village.
The caretaker of the guesthouse Malik Gacambi said he rented out a house to a man named Said Abdi Adan from Tana River county three days prior to the attack, but two others joined him later.
He said since the centre is cosmopolitan, he only took details of the first guest and never bothered with the details of the other two.
Gacambi said he gave them two rooms and they used to spend the night outside chewing miraa.
“I used to give them a mat to sit outside and they would chew miraa the whole night and sleep during the day,” he said. All have been missing since the attack and they did not leave anything behind, he said.
What residents still find strange is that when the attackers hurled a grenade at the centre, all shopkeepers and traders fled to safety leaving their premises open and unattended.
The attackers did not steal anything from the shops as they only targeted the foreigner.
They shot at the injured five as they escaped after abducting Silvia. The attackers fled on foot and crossed the River Galana through Matolani.
The attackers seemed to have studied the area well and even mapped out an exit plan. They took their time to execute their mission and escaped towards the river on foot as they knew the security response would delay. The nearest police station is 20km away in Langobaya.
Residents say Silvia had gone to pick a power bank, when the gunmen stormed her rental house.
Nigerian national James Alexander, who was staying with the Italian, said he saw one attacker throw a hand grenade and he ran away.
“I feel bad about the situation. Her parents might be in shock and it’s creating a bad impression,” he said.
Magarini MP Michael Kingi and Kilifi county secretary have visited the scene and are still on the ground assessing the situation. They have assured residents everything is “under control”.
Kingi said the attack should be an eye-opener to Interior CS Fred Matiang’i to set up police posts in areas bordering the Tsavo East National Park and and dispatch vehicles to the area. He said response could have been swift if security vehicles were available. Police had to hire motorcycles to reach the scene.
Coast regional police Boss Noah Mwiwanda confirmed the attack but promised to give full details later as he was still in the operation.
Yesterday county commander Fredrick Ochieng said a team of security officers have been dispatched to pursue the attackers. The team comprises the KDF, Kenya Police, AP officers and KWS officers.
How will the government protect its citizens especially this festive season from the terrorists attack?