Five quarry workers were brutally killed and two others injured in a deadly ambush by suspected al-Shabaab militants early Tuesday, April 29 morning in Mandera East. The attack, which occurred in Bur Abor Village, has reignited fears over the safety of non-local workers operating in the volatile region.

According to police reports, the victims were among 21 miners traveling in a matatu to their worksite when the attackers struck. Witnesses said the militants had blocked the road with stones before ambushing the vehicle, ordering the workers to lie down before shooting them at close range.

The deceased were identified as Mbaabu Karuma, Stephen Mambo, Evas Simiyu, Bernard Masika, and George Kilobi. All were non-locals who had been working in local quarries to earn a living. The two injured survivors were named as Joseph Nduati, who sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm and soft tissue injuries, and Peter Maina, who reported general body pain. Thirteen others managed to escape into the surrounding bush and were later accounted for.

Police said the workers had left Mandera town without security escort, as has been the norm. Authorities revealed that the matatu driver and his turnboy who were expected to travel with security personnel were detained for questioning to aid in the investigation.

At the scene, security teams recovered 39 empty cartridges of 7.62mm special ammunition and two live rounds. Reinforcements have since been deployed to pursue the attackers, who fled the scene before police arrived.

The attack has triggered heightened tension in the region, with residents expressing fear and concern over the recurring threat posed by the terror group. Police have linked the assault to al-Shabaab militants believed to be operating in the area.

This latest incident comes amid reports of a growing alliance between al-Shabaab and Yemen’s Ansar Allah (Houthi) rebels, raising further concerns about cross-border terrorism in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.

Security officials are continuing investigations as efforts to secure the area and prevent future attacks intensify. The bodies of the victims were flown to Nairobi for preservation and further action.