6 Kenyan traders killed by al-Shabaab terrorists near Kenya-Somalia border

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Six Kenyan traders were shot dead by al-Shabaab terrorists in Dhobley town, a border town shared between Kenya and Somalia, on Friday.

The town located approximately 562 kilometers (349 miles) southeast of Nairobi lies near Garissa County on the Kenya-Somalia border.

Confirming the attack, Garissa County police chief John Samburumo told Anadolu: "Security has been beefed up in the area following the attack."

The perpetrators of the attack reportedly fled towards Somalia following the assault, Garrisa County Commissioner Mohamed Ramadhan said, noting that the bodies of the victims are being transported to Garissa town for identification and further procedures.

Incidents like these are tragically common along the porous Kenya-Somalia border.

The motive behind al-Shabaab's relentless assaults on Kenya stems from Kenya's decision to deploy troops to Somalia in October 2011 in response to a series of kidnappings and security threats along the border region.

Kenya's involvement in the fight against terrorism in Somalia has made it a prime target for retaliatory attacks by al-Shabaab operatives.

The deadliest attack on Kenyan soil by al-Shabaab terrorists occurred at Garissa University College on April 2, 2015, where gunmen stormed the campus, killing over 140 students and injuring many others.