Hussein Abdullahi
4 January 2007
Garissa — Fleeing Somali militia shot at a Kenyan army helicopter at Hulugho border point in Ijara district just as the government closed its borders with Somalia and beefed up security along the border.
Preliminary reports indicate that heavily armed Somali Islamist militia sprayed the helicopter with bullets on Wednesday at about 5pm but the shots missed the aircraft by a whisker. The suspected militia then fled on foot.
Witnesses said the suspected Islamist militia opened fire on the chopper, which had been deployed to strengthen air surveillance in the wake of Ethiopian invasion in Somalia.
Villagers said the militia, who later fled on foot towards Kolbio border point, spotted the low flying aircraft and opened fire probably after mistaking the Kenyan aircraft for that of the invasive Ethiopian troops.
North Eastern Provincial Commissioner Kiritu Wamae declined to confirm or deny the shooting incident and referred journalists to the Department of Defence (DOD).
Mr Wamae however confirmed that security personnel stationed
along the volatile border found two vehicles and an armoured vehicle abandoned near the scene of the bombardment. A US made M16 automatic rifle was also recovered at the scene.
The PC said the vehicles are believed to have been abandoned by the defeated and retreating Islamic Court Union (UIC) militias.
Kenyan security forces manning the border today visited the scene in Harhare area of Liboi division where four Ethiopian war planes dropped at least six missiles on Tuesday evening.
"We have intensified our ground and air patrols following the Ethiopian air strikes on Tuesday and the reported shootings. A combined force of the Kenya army, regular and administration police visited Harhare area and recovered an M16 gun from one of the abandoned vehicles which were stuck in the mud" said Wamae.
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