Al-Shabaab terrorists carried out a brutal execution of five civilians on Sunday in the southeastern region of Kenya, specifically in Salama and Juhudi villages located in Lamu County near the porous border with Somalia.
Lamu County Commissioner, Louis Rono, confirmed the tragic deaths and revealed that authorities were still assessing the full extent of the carnage. The attack has sent shockwaves of grief throughout the local community.
Eyewitnesses recounted the horrifying ordeal, stating that the victims were tied to trees with ropes before being beheaded in a gruesome manner. Among those killed was a secondary school student, and their homes were also set on fire as part of the merciless assault.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate based in Somalia, has been responsible for a series of attacks in Kenya, exploiting the porous border between the two countries. One of their most infamous acts occurred in 2015 when they targeted Garissa University College, resulting in the tragic loss of more than 130 students.
The militant group’s aggression towards Kenya stems from the country’s decision to deploy troops to Somalia following a surge in kidnappings in 2011. In retaliation, al-Shabaab launched a wave of attacks against Kenya and continues to issue threats of further violence unless the Kenyan troops are withdrawn.
The recent execution serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing threat posed by al-Shabaab and highlights the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect the vulnerable regions along the Kenya-Somalia border.
