Security officers in Mandera County successfully repelled an attempted attack by suspected Al-Shabaab militants who targeted the Jabi Quick Response Unit (QRU) police camp in Lafey Sub-County on Wednesday evening.
According to preliminary security reports, the incident occurred a few minutes after 7pm when a group of about 10 heavily armed attackers approached the installation from the north-eastern direction, opening fire in what appeared to be a coordinated attempt to breach the camp’s perimeter.
The attackers are said to have engaged the camp from a distance of roughly 600 metres, testing the defensive response of officers stationed at the facility.
Police officers on duty immediately responded, triggering a heavy exchange of gunfire that lasted several minutes as both sides exchanged sustained fire. The QRU officers, who form part of specialised border security units, managed to hold their ground and prevent the attackers from overrunning the camp.
Residents in nearby villages and pastoralist settlements reported hearing intense gunfire during the confrontation, causing panic and forcing some families to stay indoors as the situation unfolded.
Security sources indicate that the attackers eventually retreated from the scene under unclear circumstances after the failed attempt to penetrate the camp. No casualties were reported during the incident, according to initial assessments from security agencies.
Following the attack, security officers secured the area and launched follow-up operations aimed at tracking the movement of the suspected militants and establishing further details surrounding the incident. Standard security lockdown procedures were also immediately activated at the camp to prevent any further threats.
The attempted attack comes amid heightened security concerns in the region, which has in recent days experienced a series of cross-border incidents linked to armed groups operating near the Kenya–Somalia border.
Just days earlier, two people were killed and another injured in a separate attack in Elgolicha village, also in Mandera County. That incident occurred in the early hours of June 8 when approximately 10 armed assailants reportedly crossed into the area and opened fire on civilians before fleeing.
In that attack, an 82-year-old man was killed alongside another victim, while a woman sustained serious injuries during the raid, according to police reports.
Security agencies continue to intensify patrols and surveillance in border regions as part of ongoing efforts to counter infiltration by armed groups and protect residents living in vulnerable frontier areas.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as operations continue in the wider Mandera region.
 police camp in Lafey Sub-County on Wednesday evening.){kind=link}