KENYA: Residents Flee Village Following Visit from the Al-shabaab

ARCHIVES August 19, 2015 ADMIN

LAMU, AUGUST 18 2015 (CISA) – Residents of Basuba area in Lamu County have deserted their homes after al-shabaab invaded the area, preached to and threatened the villagers, reported the Daily Nation newspaper.

The August 15 event saw over 30 families flee to an area called Bodhai 14 kilometres away for fear of attacks by the outlawed militia, leaving behind the elderly and sick who were later evacuated using motorbikes.

The fleeing residents apparently preferred Bodhai because it has a military camp, a police post and a Kenya Wildlife Service Post where they would feel safer.

According to a witness, the terrorists who were at least 100 preached for an hour and warned the residents not to inform the police.

“I’m really scared, the Baure attack at a Kenya Defence Forces camp on June 14 and the recent invasion in Basuba is proof that the terrorists live among us” Mr.Godana Abdi, a resident told theDaily Nation.

According to the villagers, they are afraid to go to their farms for fear of running into the militia who they believe are still roaming their village and are living in the nearby Boni forest.

“We do not have the courage to go to our farms. Hunting has also become impossible since al-shabaab has turned our forest into their hiding place. We do not have food, people may starve. We need help,” said Ali Abdi another resident of the area.

Lamu coordinating police commander Chrispus Mutali promised that police would handle the situation to ensure the villagers are safe.  “We are doing our best to secure Kenyans,” the Daily Nation reported him to have said.

Earlier on June 14, the terrorists ambushed a Kenya Defence forces camp in Baure, Lamu but the forces overpowered them killing 11.

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