Suspected al-Shabaab militants attacked a Safaricom telecommunications mast inside a school compound in Dadaab, Garissa County, before dawn on Sunday, raising fresh concerns over the security of critical infrastructure along Kenya’s border with Somalia.
The attack took place in Abakaile village, a remote area near the porous Kenya–Somalia border, where militant activity has remained a persistent security challenge despite intensified military and police operations.
Police officers responding to the incident arrived at the scene at about 4am. Initial investigations found that the attackers had partially damaged the metallic door protecting the telecommunications mast. There were no immediate reports of explosives being used or major destruction to the installation.
Authorities said all teachers stationed at the school were safely accounted for and none were injured during the attack, although the incident left residents and school staff shaken.
Security personnel secured the compound and began documenting the scene before launching a broader search to determine the full extent of the damage and recover any evidence that could assist investigators.
Police have not disclosed how many attackers were involved or whether communication services were disrupted following the incident. Investigations remain ongoing.
The attack comes as Kenyan security agencies continue to step up operations against al-Shabaab cells operating along the country’s north-eastern frontier. The militant group has frequently targeted security installations, communication infrastructure and civilian facilities in counties bordering Somalia.
The Garissa incident follows another suspected al-Shabaab attack on Friday night at Arabia Police Station in neighbouring Mandera County.
According to police, about eight suspected militants launched an assault on the station from the south-eastern side, firing rocket-propelled grenades before opening sustained gunfire.
Officers on duty returned fire and repelled the attackers. Police said every officer stationed at the camp was accounted for after the attack, with no injuries or fatalities reported.
Security teams planned clearance patrols in the area to establish whether the attackers left behind evidence or suffered casualties during the exchange.
The latest incidents highlight the continuing security threat facing Kenya’s border counties more than a decade after the country launched Operation Linda Nchi in October 2011. The military operation followed a series of cross-border attacks and kidnappings that Kenyan authorities said threatened national security and the country’s tourism industry.
Although Kenyan forces, working alongside regional partners, have disrupted parts of al-Shabaab’s network over the years, the militant group continues to carry out sporadic attacks, particularly in remote areas close to the Somalia border.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant as investigations into both attacks continue.
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