By CYRUS OMBATI

Mandera, Kenya: At least two people were Monday morning killed and three others wounded after gunmen attacked a bus and a lorry between Kotulo and El-Wak in Mandera County.

The attackers believed to be Al-Shabaab militants, first sprayed bullets at the Makkah bus killing one person on board.

A witness said one person was killed in the bus and a second one in the lorry, which was also at the scene.

North Eastern regional coordinator Mohamud Saleh said the bus driver, who was among the injured, did not stop after the 6.45 am shooting incident.

“The gunmen, who we believe were Al-Shabaab militants, shot at the bus killing one passenger and injured the driver and two other passengers,” said Saleh.

He added that the militants also shot at a lorry that was passing by and killed a passenger.

“Both drivers did not stop. They sped off saving many lives because their intent was to carry out a massacre or loot,” said Saleh.

He said the bus driver left Nairobi on Sunday and spent the night at Kotulo Township where he was supposed to wait for other buses travelling to Mandera and get police escort.

“But the driver did not wait for the escort. He decided to drive to Mandera”, Saleh said.

He drove up to Dabacity where the militants, who were on the road, shot at the bus.

The injured were taken to a local hospital. And even though Saleh commended the driver for his braveness, he blamed him for not waiting for police escort.

The official said the military had joined police in pursuing the attackers, who escaped towards Somalia border.

Source: Standard Digital