MANDERA, Kenya (HornPost) — At least eight people, including engineers and security officers, have been killed in an armed attack targeting a road construction team in Mandera County in northeastern Kenya, according to local reports.
The attack occurred at around 8:30 a.m. in the Elgarsu area, along a road connecting Mandera town with Arabia, where construction work has been underway for the past six months.
The victims included engineers working on the road project, security personnel assigned to protect the construction team and a driver.
The BBC confirmed that eight bodies had been taken to the mortuary at Mandera General Hospital following the attack.
An independent journalist at the hospital, who spoke to HornPost, said two of the victims were security officers, five were engineers involved in the road construction project, and one was the driver transporting them.
Three of those killed were Somali nationals, according to the journalist.
Attack Targeted Workers Travelling to Construction Site
The victims were reportedly travelling in a vehicle to their worksite when armed attackers ambushed them.
The security officers were providing protection for the road construction project. The engineers were involved in building the road linking Mandera town and Arabia.
Initial reports suggest that nearly 10 people may have been killed. However, eight deaths had been confirmed by the BBC at the time of reporting.
The identity of the attackers remains unknown. No group has claimed responsibility for the assault.
Security Concerns in Mandera County
The attack raises fresh security concerns in Mandera County, a region in northeastern Kenya that has experienced repeated security challenges.
The targeting of road construction workers and their security escorts could also affect infrastructure development in the area.
The road project linking Mandera and Arabia has been under construction for approximately six months.
Authorities had not publicly identified those responsible for the attack or announced further details about the investigation at the time of publication.
HornPost Staff Reporter
Email: info@hornpost.com
Website: https://hornpost.com
