16 Ethiopian, one native killed in raid against Kenyan village

Oct 6, 2006 (NAIROBI) — At least 16 Ethiopian raiders and one Kenyan were Thursday shot dead when militiamen from the neighboring country invaded a village in Marsabit District, Kenyan police stated.

A Kenyan police reservist patrols in Marsabit, northern Kenya, 14 July 2005.

Three other Kenyans were last night fighting for their lives in hospital. They were airlifted to Nairobi where underwent successful surgery at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

Area district commissioner Mutea Iringo said only one Kenyan woman died in the raid at Forolle Village in Huri Hills Location.

The estimated 200 raiders stole 500 head of cattle during the 5.30am raid. Forolle is situated on the territorial border.

The joint police-military search for Ethiopian militias who early yesterday attacked a manyatta in Marsabit District [northern Kenya] has been called off.

The search was stopped after it became apparent that the bandits had already crossed over to Ethiopia.

Police said the rest of the bandits engaged Kenyan security forces in a one-hour gun battle before retreating to Ethiopia. Police recovered two AK-47 rifles and 14 rounds of ammunition.

The raid comes a month after 17 Ethiopian attackers were shot dead by security forces in another raid in Kenya.

North Horr MP Ukur Yatani had on Saturday warned about yesterday’s raid.

“I am writing this letter from York, United Kingdom, warning our Government that another round of attack is imminent in Forolle, Turbi and Dukana,” he said.

He added: “I have credible information that a combined force of Ethiopian police and militia from Yabalo Province (Southern Ethiopia) are grouping in three different spots to attack these centres and are likely to target children and women for elimination similar to the Turbi scenario of last year.”

Mr Yatani said he was appealing to Maj-Gen Ali and Internal Security minister John Michuki to deploy General Service Unit personnel on the border to prevent the attack.

Tension was high in village and surrounding areas yesterday. A local primary school was closed for fear of attacks.

The 500-kilometre Kenya-Ethiopian border has been a target of attacks.

Marsabit District Commissioner, Mutea Iringo, however, says that security has been beefed up in the border town and particularly Folore.

Mr Iringo said: “We have tried to seal off the border but skirmishes still occur. The only solution is to start negotiations with leaders in Marsabit and Moyale districts and their counterparts in Ethiopia.”

In July last year, more than 90 people were executed in a dawn raid at Turbi trading centre, 18 of them school children. A few days after the Turbi massacre, 10 people were killed at Bubisa trading centre in a revenge attack. And on April 19, three people were killed and 4,100 sheep and goats stolen in another village in Marsabit.

(ST/KTN TV/Nation)