Authorities in Somalia have returned two rifles that were taken from a Kenyan police officer who was killed in an attack at a security post near the Kenya-Somalia border in Mandera County. The weapons a G3 and an AK47 rifle were handed over to the Mandera security team on Saturday morning, although police noted that some ammunition was missing. While the rifles originally had a total of 90 bullets, only 10 were recovered.
The handover follows a deadly assault on Kenyan police officers at Border Point 4 in Mandera on Friday, March 14. According to police reports, about 20 armed men ambushed five officers from the Border Police Unit. During the attack, Constable Dennis Omari was shot and killed instantly, while another officer sustained a gunshot wound to the left arm. The injured officer was taken to Mandera Referral Hospital before being airlifted to Nairobi for further medical treatment.
The assailants reportedly seized Omari’s G3 rifle, which held 60 bullets, and an AK47 rifle with 30 bullets before fleeing the scene. Authorities suspect the attack may have been an act of revenge linked to a recent arrest of terror suspects allegedly involved in a failed abduction attempt targeting Chinese nationals working in Mandera. Investigations suggest that a relative of one of the arrested suspects, who is reportedly an officer in a Somali security agency, may have coordinated the assault.
Kenyan authorities promptly demanded the return of the firearms and the arrest of those responsible. In response, Somali authorities informed their Kenyan counterparts that they had recovered the rifles and were prepared to hand them over. However, the attackers remain at large. Somalia’s military has reportedly launched a manhunt for those involved.
Senior police officials have visited the attack site as part of ongoing investigations. The cross-border nature of the incident highlights the security challenges along the Kenya-Somalia border, where armed groups have frequently launched incursions into Kenyan territory. The cooperation between the two nations in returning the stolen rifles marks a step toward addressing tensions, but authorities emphasize the need for enhanced security measures and continued collaboration to prevent further attacks.
