KDF kills 5 Alshabab militants

Kenya Defence Forces on Sunday killed five al Shabaab militants and recovered assorted weapons in Garissa, near Kenya-Somalia border.The militants had on Friday attacked Ijara police station and made away with a police Land Cruiser.

They also torched down the police station.

KDF soldiers stand guard at the residential building in Mandera where al Shabaab militants killed 6 people in 2016.FIL

KDF spokesman Col. David Obonyo said bomb-making materials that were being ferried in the stolen police Land Cruiser exploded destroying it.

"The troops caught up with the militants as they tried to get to the Somalia border. In the ensuing firefight, suspected bomb-making materials that were being ferried exploded destroying the vehicle," Obonyo said.

"However, a motorcycle also suspected to have been stolen in Ijara, five AK 47 rifles, 13 magazines with 370 rounds of ammunition, two grenades, bomb-making materials and personal items were recovered."

Obonyo said the soldiers are still pursuing other militants who managed to escape some with gun wounds.

Joseph Ndunda/The star