Three officers injured in Al-Shabaab attack on elite SOG camp in Mandera
Three police officers suffered injuries late Friday when suspected Al-Shabaab militants stormed a Special Operations Group (SOG) camp in Fino, Lafey Sub-County, Mandera County, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire before the attackers were driven away.
by Samuel Mwanawanjuguna Saturday June 13, 2026
Special Operations Group, who are part of the border police operations, stand guard in El Wak during the second day of the government’s Jukwaa la Usalama tour of Mandera County on September 23, 2025. Photo Kipchumba Murkomen
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Three police officers suffered injuries late Friday when suspected Al-Shabaab militants stormed a Special Operations Group (SOG) camp in Fino, Lafey Sub-County, Mandera County, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire before the attackers were driven away.
Initial accounts show the assailants opened the attack on the camp, prompting officers to respond immediately and repel the assault.
According to police, the militants used Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and PKM machine guns during the raid.
The SOG officers fought back quickly, and the gun battle continued for about 25 minutes before the militants retreated.
The wounded officers were taken to hospital for treatment as security agencies began pursuing the attackers.
Security forces have since mounted a manhunt for the militants, who fled after the attempted assault failed.
Authorities said more security personnel had been sent to the area while the search operation continued.
Fino, close to the Kenya-Somalia border, has a history of attacks linked to suspected Al-Shabaab militants because of its position near the frontier.
The latest attack adds to a string of security incidents and attempted raids in Mandera County, an area that has repeatedly come under threat from the Somalia-based militant group.
On Wednesday, police in Mandera also stopped another suspected Al-Shabaab attack after militants targeted the Jabi Quick Response Unit (QRU) Camp in Lafey Sub-County shortly after 7pm.
Preliminary reports indicated that about 10 heavily armed militants approached the camp from the north-eastern direction and opened fire in what authorities believe was an effort to overrun the facility.
The attackers reportedly fired from roughly 600 metres away, apparently probing the camp’s defences, but officers successfully repelled the assault without the militants breaking into the installation.
The Special Operations Group (SOG) is an elite multi-agency counter-terrorism unit operating under the Border Patrol Unit (BPU) and works closely with the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in securing Kenya’s borders and responding to high-risk security threats.
