Six Al-Shabaab killed in ambush

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PHOTO/FILE Mr Edward Yesse (right), the father of Wajir DO Mule Yesse, who was abducted by Al-Shabaab, speaks to Pastor Thomas Duda of Crisco Church during a prayer meeting in Nairobi last Thursday.  

By PATRICK MAYOYO pmayoyo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, January 23  2012 at  22:30

Eleven Al-Shabaab militants were killed when Kenyan soldiers and those of the Somali government attacked their camp in Hosingo in southern Somalia on Sunday night.

Two Kenyan soldiers and one from Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government were killed during the attack, said Military spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir.

“On 22 January 2012 at around 2300hrs in the general area of Delbio and Hosingo, Kenya Defence Forces and TFG conducted a raid on Al-Shabaab camp where 1) Al- Shabaab militia were killed while others escaped with injuries,” he said.

Two abducted

Major Chirchir said four AK-47 rifles, communication equipment, collapsible water tank and several rounds of ammunition, among other things, were found.

A fortnight ago, six people were killed and three others abducted when Al-Shabaab militants raided an Administration Police camp in Wajir.

On Wednesday, Al-Shabaab released pictures of two of the abducted men on Twitter and released the third.

The government has called for unconditional release of the two civil servants.

Internal Security permanent secretary Francis Kimemia said over the weekend that the government had put in place measures to ensure the safe return of district officer Mule Yesse and registration of persons official Patrick Wainaina.

The Islamists invaded Gerille town on the Kenya-Somalia border and bombed the camp, reducing it to ashes.

In a statement, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere said: “About 100 heavily-armed bandits attacked Gerille Administration Police Post in Wajir South District at around 6.30pm. The bandits also stole firearms, ammunition and a car from the post."

Separately, the Chief of Defence Forces General Julius Karangi has said soldiers deployed in the battlefront would live up to their oath to protect Kenya’s interests.

“The oath that we took when we accepted to serve in uniform in defence of our country is still intact and therefore we shall defend our national interests and values at whatever cost,” he said at Lanet Air Strip, Nakuru, during the 32nd Kenya Defence Forces Cross Country championships.

He said the soldiers on the frontline had registered remarkable success against the Al-Shabaab since the war started 105 days ago.

Last week, media reports quoted the militants warning that they would continue to raid towns in Kenya and carry out killings and abductions

Al-Shabaab also released a propaganda video declaring war against Kenya.

The video was released by Sheikh Ahmed Iman Ali, a Kenyan, fighting for Al-Shabaab in Somalia.