Special police unit deployed in Mandera after gunmen kill 6 in matatu attack
By Kenneth Mwenda, May 9, 2026Police have deployed specialised security teams to hunt down gunmen who killed six people in an attack on a passenger matatu along the Mandera–Arabia road in Mandera County.
The attack happened on Saturday, May 9, 2026, near Omar Jillo Centre in Mandera East. Armed men suspected to be militia fighters opened fire on a Nissan matatu shortly after it passed the area.
The vehicle had been hired to transport family members travelling to Arabia town for an annual Qur’an recitation gathering.
According to the National Police Service (NPS), the attackers fired indiscriminately at the vehicle before fleeing the scene.
Security officers from different agencies later responded and evacuated the victims to Arabia Sub-County Level Four Hospital. Six people were pronounced dead on arrival.
Three other passengers suffered serious injuries and were later transferred to Mandera County Referral Hospital for specialised treatment.
In a statement issued on Saturday evening, May 9, 2026, NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said security teams had launched a major operation to pursue those behind the killings.
“A multi-agency team, including specialised units, remains actively deployed in the area, where a comprehensive search and pursuit operation is underway with the sole aim of hunting down the perpetrators,” Nyaga said.
“We are committed to bringing them to justice and ensuring they face the full force of the law,” he added.
Security fears grow further
Security officers sealed off the area and started investigations as the operation to trace the attackers continued.
The attack has raised fresh concerns over insecurity along roads linking Mandera town and nearby border areas. Residents said travellers using public transport remain exposed, especially in remote parts of the county.
Some locals called on the government to increase security patrols and strengthen surveillance along the Mandera–Arabia road.
Lafey Member of Parliament Mohamed Abdikheir condemned the killings and urged authorities to act quickly.
“It is with profound sadness that I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the six innocent travellers on a mini-bus who were brutally killed by unknown gunmen in the outskirts of Arabia,” he said in a Facebook statement.
“My prayers are with the injured, who are fighting for recovery amid this senseless violence,” he added.
The MP described the attack as a cowardly act and called for swift investigations.
“I strongly condemn this barbaric act of cowardice, which has robbed lives. Such atrocities have no place in our modern society,” Abdikheir said.
He also asked the government to tighten security measures in the region to protect civilians and prevent similar attacks.
Meanwhile, the National Police Service appealed to members of the public to share any information that could help investigators track down the attackers.
“We encourage anyone with information that may assist the investigation to contact the nearest police station,” Nyaga said.
Police said they would continue updating the public as the security operation progresses.