In a pre-dawn raid on a predominantly Christian area in
coastal Kenya on Sunday (Jan. 31), Islamic extremist Al Shabaab rebels killed
at least four Christians, beheading one of them, area sources said.
In the Kaisari area of Maporomoko village, near Pandanguo
about 25 miles inland from the Indian Ocean town of Lamu, Al Shabaab rebels
attacked from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., a wounded survivor at Mpeketoni Sub-County Hospital
told Morning Star News.
The victim, a Christian from the Maporomoko-Bondeni area who
was shot in his right hand, said there were five or six heavily-armed
assailants who spoke Somali and were dressed in military
uniform. They shot two
Christians to death, hacked and beheaded another and killed at least one other
by setting his house on fire, he said.
“I could not understand them, so they shot me in my hand,
but I managed to escape while a neighbor who was with me was beheaded by the
other attackers,” the Christian (name withheld) said from his hospital bed. “As
I fled for my life bleeding, I could see two houses burning. Those who were
attacked are Christians. I am very sure that the attackers were looking for
Christians.”
The beheaded man was identified only as Mwaura, a Christian.
“This is the third time the area has been attacked, and we
have lost several Christians,” the survivor said.
The rebels, who are fighting government and regional forces
in Somalia, regard the northern coastal area of Kenya as Islamic territory. Al
Shabaab, linked with Al Qaeda, took responsibility for the attack in a call to
news organization Al Jazeera.
“Our fighters attacked non-believers in the occupied Muslim
land of Lamu,” a spokesman said. “Our Mujahideen [Jihadists] killed several
non-believers in the attack. We will give more details later.”
Unknown people resembling Al Shabaab militants had
previously been seen in Pandanguo, a predominantly Muslim area, an area
Christian leader said. Pandanguo is about 60 miles from the Somalia border.
“The Muslims want to wholly own the coastal region, and they
want that the Christians should leave the area for them, but our presence in
Lamu will bring many to the Christian faith,” the pastor said. “God has called
us to be the salt and the light and to lead many to the marvelous light of
Christ.”
Maporomoko village has a population of about 2,000 people
from Christian tribes – Kikuyus, Meru and Kamba – and from non-Christian or
Muslim Orma, Boni and Wasanye tribes, as well as Somalis. The Al Shabaab
militants attacked only the Christian areas, the Christian leader said.
The rebels burned homes; left several people wounded and
kidnapped some Christians, according to various sources.
“Security forces were
following the footpaths of those kidnapped, who disappeared into the Pandanguo
area, which is the home of the Boni and Somalis,” the pastor said. “The
Christians are now finding out about some of their missing neighbors. The
security personnel are not disclosing information, as tension remains high in
areas where Christians have settled themselves: Mpeketoni, Hindi and some parts
of Maporomoko area, which has been a target of Al Shabaab militia.”
Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet told media the
attack occurred near Pandanguo, which witnessed killings during June 2014 Al
Shabaab attacks. Boinnet reportedly said security personnel were in the area
tracking down the militants.
“They were dressed in military attire and heavily armed,” a
senior police officer reportedly said.
“They spoke in the Somali language and
shot at locals and beheaded others before escaping on foot.”
On June 15, 2014, Al Shabaab rebels attacked Mpeketoni, in
Lamu County, selecting out Christian males as they killed more than 57 people,
area sources said. The estimated 50 Al Shabaab militants attacked two hotels, a
police station and other buildings in a five-hour assault with guns and
grenades. Sources told Morning Star News the attackers were chanting “Allahu
Akbar [God is Greater]” and killing whoever could not recite verses from the
Koran.
After Sunday morning’s assault, Mpeketoni residents on Monday
morning (Feb. 1) protested terror attacks by Al Shabaab militia in the region.
Police had to stop the demonstration of angry Mpeketoni residents to keep them
from retaliation attacks on Somalis living in the area. At the same time,
hundreds of people in Kaisari, greater Maporomoko and nearby Jima and Nyatha
villages have been seen fleeing their homes.
“We feel very insecure, and our lives are in danger,” a
mother of four in Hindi told Morning Star News. “Next time, the attackers will
come and destroy us completely.”
Al Shabaab rebels have launched several attacks in northeast
Kenya since Kenyan forces led an African coalition into Somalia against the
rebels in October 2011, in response to terrorist attacks on tourists and others
on Kenya’s coast.
Source: Christian Headlines
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