Wednesday November 30, 2022
By CYRUS OMBATI
Two teenage boys were left crippled after an abandoned bomb exploded in Daba, Mandera.
The boys hit the explosive with a stone leading to detonation.
This is the latest incident caused by abandoned explosives.
According to police and hospital officials, Mohammed Adan Ibrahim, 13, and Fardosa Ibrahim Kula, 14, were admitted to Elwak subcounty hospital with multiple injuries that led to the amputation of their legs.
The teenagers told the officials they were herding livestock over the weekend when they spotted a device that was later found to be a grenade.
"Out of curiosity, one of the boys picked a stone and hit the device, then it exploded," the boy said.
The victim told police he was curious to know what the green object was.
The boys sustained major injuries from the explosion before they were rescued and rushed to hospital.
Witnesses told police the teenagers hit the explosive oblivious of the dangers they were facing.
Police said they were called to the hospital and later visited the scene where they collected the samples for analysis.
Police warned that there could be more explosives in the area and blamed the same on the al Shabaab terror group that was operating there.
Last month, a similar incident left two boys dead after they tried to carry a Rocket Propelled Grenade that had been abandoned on a field in the same area.
Early October , a group of children escaped death after they picked up a similar RPG from a field in Golicha, Elwak subcounty.
The children were herding livestock when they stumbled on the explosive, picked it up and delivered it to the chief’s office.
Officials were shocked that the children knew the object was dangerous.
Police were later called and took the explosive for safe detonation.
Three children had earlier been injured in the same area when an abandoned explosive device exploded on them.
The children were playing in the area when one of them hit the explosive that has since been established to be a grenade.
Police say most of the explosives are abandoned by suspected terrorists from Somalia who roam the area.
Northeastern police boss George Seda said they are aware some of the explosives have been abandoned by terrorists to cause harm to residents.
"We urge all concerned parties to be careful, especially in areas near the border, where these explosives could be abandoned," he said.
Seda further said they have deployed experts to comb the area for more devices.
He said the officers will also educate residents on the objects.
The area is near the main Kenya-Somalia border, which is usually breached by al Shabaab terrorists who attack at will.
Terrorists have been targeting security installations in a series of incidents and destroying them. They at times throw the explosives, which don’t explode.
The border region has borne the brunt of repeat attacks from the militants who are at times aided by residents.
The terrorists at times plant explosives on the routes used by security agencies and attack them.
Somalia has not had a stable government after the fall of Siad Barre in 1991.