by Stephen Ingati and Fabian Mangera
MANDERA, Kenya, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan authorities on Saturday launched a massive security operation in Mandera County after Islamist militants opened fire on two commuter buses, killing six people on Friday.
Northeastern Regional Coordinator Mohamud Saleh said five passengers and a police reservist were killed between Elwak and Wargadud area when two Mandera-bound buses were sprayed with bullets.
Saleh said police and Kenya Defence Forces have launched both ground and aerial surveillance to arrest the militia in the restive county which has been the scene of frequent terror attacks.
"We want to sustain our foot and aerial cover for some time because we believe the gunmen are still hiding in the bushes," Saleh said on Saturday.
Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet said security operation is underway in Elwak to arrest the militia behind the attack, saying some passengers were rescued and those injured have been hospitalized.
"Reinforcement has been mobilized and the scene of attack cordoned off. The security personnel are in hot pursuit of the terrorists," Boinnet said.
The buses were traveling to the town of Mandera, near the border with Somalia, when they were attacked. The two buses were being escorted by police officers who were onboard at the time of the attack.
"The gunmen attacked as the buses negotiated a corner in the area and later escaped. We have deployed personnel to pursue them," Saleh said.
He said they suspected the gang was also supported by local militia who are fighting for business reasons.
"We will not allow a few marauding bandits to come and cause havoc in the country. We will go for them and make sure that we rid them out of our territory," Saleh added.
The first bus owned by Tawakal Company managed to speed off during the attack that occurred at around 10 am local time Friday while the second one E-Coach stopped after a hail of bullets were sprayed on it.
The driver of the Tawakal Bus was shot on the foot but drove to safety to the nearby Wargadud police station.
The incident came after authorities had warned the government would not allow non-local residents to use buses during the holy month of Ramadhan based on intelligence reports of Al-Shabaab attack in the area.
The Friday incident was the latest of a series of attacks in the restive area.
Two weeks ago, five police officers lost their lives after a group of suspected Al-Shabaab militants attacked their vehicle as they were escorting a bus that was headed for Mandera from Wajir.
