Six people, including former Arabia Ward Councillor Mohamed Diis, were killed on Saturday after armed gunmen ambushed a passenger matatu near Beer-Awayon village along the Arabia road in Mandera County.
Seven other passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to Arabia Sub-County Hospital for treatment, with local sources saying at least one woman remains in critical condition.
The 14-seater Nissan matatu, locally known as a “Homey,” was reportedly carrying 13 passengers travelling to attend an annual Quran event organized by members of their sub-clan when the attack occurred.
According to sources on the ground, the attackers opened fire on the vehicle, killing the driver, an expectant mother, and four other men on the spot.
Residents gathered in large numbers at Arabia Sub-County Hospital as survivors received treatment while anxious families waited for updates on their loved ones.
Outside the hospital compound, the blood-stained Nissan van used to transport the victims remained parked, bearing visible signs of the deadly ambush that has left the Arabia community in shock and mourning.
The attack comes amid rising tension that had reportedly been building in the Arabia border area over the past week. According to local reports and sources familiar with the developments on the ground, security forces allegedly killed one person during an operation around the border routes near Arabia, an incident that reportedly triggered anger and fear within sections of the community.
Following the incident, residents say movement along some routes became tense, with concerns growing over the possibility of retaliatory violence. Community members on the ground claim warnings and fears had already begun circulating before Saturday deadly ambush.
Sources now allege that the attackers may have targeted the matatu as part of a revenge mission linked to the earlier incident, although authorities had not officially confirmed the motive behind the killings by the time of publication.
The victims, according to local residents, were ordinary civilians travelling for a religious gathering, making the attack even more painful for the affected families and the wider Arabia community.
Mandera Governor Mohammed Adan Khalif condemned the attack, describing it as a “heinous attack” that led to the loss of innocent lives.
“I express my deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims,” the governor said, adding that county leadership would work to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
MP Mohammed Abdikheir also condemned the killings, calling the ambush a “barbaric act of cowardice.”
“Such atrocities have no place in our modern society,” the MP said while urging the government to conduct swift investigations and enhance security in the area.
The attack has once again raised concerns over insecurity along parts of Mandera County, where residents travelling on remote roads continue to face threats from armed attacks.
As investigations continue, grieving families have begun burial preparations for the victims while survivors remain admitted at Arabia Sub-County Hospital.