AF-SOOMAALI

Police seek fingerprint identification for Shabaab gunmen killed in Dadaab


The bodies of the two suspected Al-Shabaab militants who were killed as they attempted to attack Hamey Police Patrol Base in Dadaab were on Wednesday night taken to Garissa for fingerprint identification.

The two were killed following a fierce gun battle with police that lasted for hours.

One police officer died in the attack. Dadaab OCPD Kimilu Raphael told the Nation that they had handed over bodies to security bosses in Garissa who are working on investigation and identification of the suspected Al-Shabaab militants.

He said the gunmen numbering between 10 and 15 attacked the post at around 11pm on Tuesday night with the intension of stealing firearms and ammunitions.

(READ: Two Shabaab gunmen killed in Dadaab shootout)

“The militants thought by striking at the ungodly hour they would find our officers off-guard but to their surprise our officers were alert,” he said.

According to locals who spoke on condition of anonymity the militants are believed to be from the border village of Horsingo inside Somalia.

Their parents are said to be immigrants at the Hagadera refugee camp in Dadaab.

The two bodies were taken to the Garissa Referral Hospital mortuary.

Abdirashid Dube, a police officer who is said to have killed the two before he was killed is from Takaba, Mandera West constituency.

Security patrols have been heightened in and around Garissa Town with increased police patrols as the fight against terrorism is intensified.