Police reservist dies in lorry accident during patrol to flush out al-Shabaab
Accident scene. Courtesy photo
A National Police Reservist (NPR) has died after a Rapid Border Patrol Unit (RBPU) lorry ran over him between Basuba and Mangai in the terror-prone Boni Forest.
According to Lamu County Commissioner Wesley Koech, the incident happened at 4:30am on Sunday as the victim Cheka Mohamed Haji,52, was doing a night-dawn patrol within Boni Forest.
Mohammed was among tens of security agencies doing patrol. He was aboard the truck, but suddenly they spotted a suspicious ditch in front that the security agencies thought was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted on the route by al-Shabaab militants.
That is the time when they were instructed to jump out of the vehicle and started firing randomly in the nearby bushes. In the process of jumping, Mohammed landed behind the vehicle. The driver reportedly reversed unexpectedly and ran over him.
Mr Koech told AVDelta News that the accident is under intense investigation.
"The accident occurred very early in the morning. It involved the application of emergency breaks that led to officers to fall. The NPR officer died. When I get more details I will relay," said Mr Koech.
The security agencies are part of a multi-agency operation--Operation Amani Boni (OAB)--which is ongoing in Boni Forest and meant to flush out al-Shabaab militants believed to be hiding inside the dense forest.
Lamu County Commissioner Wesley Koech says he was yet to get finer details about the early morning accident.
"The incident happened today,very early in the morning. I am yet to get more details about the incident. My officers are on the ground. Once I get more information, I'll let you know," said Mr Koech.
