Lamu: Two people nursing gunshot wounds, 4 others injured in suspected Al-Shabaab attack

Two people are nursing gunshot wounds while four others escaped death by a whisker after the vehicle they were travelling in was ambushed by suspected Al-Shabaab militants at Lango la Simba area, Lamu County, on Wednesday evening.

The six persons, who were part of a court procession, were returning from a mobile court in Kipini when the militants ambushed them at around 5pm.

According to a charge sheet obtained by Citizen Digital, the six included Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Rotich, Court Clerk Boy Njue, a representative from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Frank Sirima, police constables Moses Bett and Willis Mgendi, as well as driver Abel Barisa.

Rotich, Njue Bett and Mgendi are said to have sustained minor bruises during the attack while Barisa and Sirima were shot in the right and left knee respectively.

The suspected militants are also said to have opened fire on two different vehicles belonging to construction company H Young prior to ambushing the court officials’ vehicle. Both vehicles were en route to Gamba from Witu.

Occupants of one of the vehicles successfully escaped the ambush after ditching their vehicle and scampering to safety while those of the other got away unharmed after driving through the waylay scene despite having flat tires.

A multi-agency team from Witu and Tana Delta have since visited the scene and contained the situation.

The injured persons have also been rushed to Shuheyla Medical Center for treatment while the court officials' truck was taken to Witu Police Station.