This archive report was first published on 30 October 2019.
On Tuesday evening, Al-Shabaab militia launched a surprise attack on Dadajabula Police Station in Wajir, approximately 683 kilometers from Nairobi, the capital city.
According to a local administrator, who wished to remain anonymous, the attackers used heavy artillery, including rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), to breach the station's defenses.
The attack is believed to have been a rescue mission, as two members of the Al-Shabaab group were being held at the station.
A police source confirmed that the attackers were chanting in Somali as they stormed the station, and that the officers were dispersed in different directions, leading to an exchange of fire.
Locals reported hearing heavy gunfire for over 20 minutes as the officers and Kenya Defence Forces attempted to stop the attackers.
"The attack was about rescuing two Al-Shabaab suspects we were holding at the station," a police source stated.
As the situation unfolded, one of the police officers was shot in the hip, with the bullet exiting, while the other has a bullet lodged in his stomach.
A civilian, a woman, also suffered a gunshot wound and was being treated at Dadajabula Dispensary.
However, it remains unclear whether the suspects were killed by bullets fired by the Shabaabs or the Kenya Defence Forces.
