by Joy Nabukewa and Chris Mgidu
LAMU, Kenya, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Suspected Al-Shabaab militants on Tuesday night brutally murdered four people in the restive Lamu County in Kenya's coast, the police confirmed on Wednesday.
Regional police commander Larry Kieng said the four villagers were shot and then decapitated by armed militants who raided Hindi village.
"We had another attack in Hindi area where four people were shot and then slaughtered with knives by armed militants. It's a very unfortunate incident but we have launched investigation," Kieng told Xinhua.
The regional police commander said more security officers are pursuing the suspects who escaped towards Boni Forest which they have been using as their hideout.
The area has been under attack in recent months by Al-Shabaab members hiding in Boni forest which is near the Somalia border.
The forest is used as recruitment and training ground for Al-Shabaab members. The government has enhanced security in the restive country following frequent attacks by the Islamist militants.
The occurrence follows a similar incident in the area where three people were killed after Al-Shabaab militants attacked a passenger bus and a car at Nyongoro area in Witu, Lamu.
"We have deployed adequate police agents to pursue the militants believed to be holed up in the forest," Kieng said. The authorities have previously threatened to bomb the forest.
The incident comes barely few days after suspected Al-Shabaab returnees killed two police officers in Ukunda, Kwale County.
Police said the four gunmen are part Jaysh Aman, an affiliated group of Al-Shabaab hiding at Boni forest in Lamu.
Report indicates the four are believed to have killed the officers to avenge the death of wanted terror suspect Hussein Said Omar, alias Babley, behind Mpeketoni attacks gunned down last month in Mombasa.
