A multi-agency security operation is underway in Mandera County following the abduction of two miners by suspected gunmen near a quarry in the Shimbir area on Wednesday, June 18.
According to police reports, the incident occurred at around 1 pm, when a group of six loaders aboard a lorry was ambushed by four armed men who had been hiding in nearby bushes in the Chachabole area.
The attackers, witnesses said, emerged from their hideout and descended on the group. Four of the workers, who are local residents, managed to escape. However, the two non-locals—John Kambua and Martin Musyoki—were overpowered and taken away by the assailants.
“The gang left with the two miners for an unknown destination,” police said in a statement. “Efforts to trace them are ongoing.”
The motive behind the abduction remains unclear, but authorities suspect it could be linked to criminal gangs or militant activity in the region, which has previously witnessed sporadic attacks targeting non-local workers.
Security teams, including local police, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), and intelligence units, have been deployed to track the perpetrators and rescue the abducted men.
The incident has sparked concern among residents and leaders, who are now calling for enhanced security for workers, especially in volatile and remote parts of northern Kenya.
