Two quarry workers on Thursday were abducted by suspected Al-Shabab militants from Shimbir settlement in Mandera district in Northeastern Kenya. According to the police, the incident occurred at noon after suspected Al-Shabab fighters who were hiding in the bush that is nearby Chachaboole settlement, and ambushed a truck carrying stones.
Four men from the local residents who were onboard of the truck managed to escape from the area. However, two quarry workers who do not originate from the settlement named John Kambua and Martin Musyoki were abducted and we do not know where they have been taken to. Security agencies commenced operations in search of the militants.
The incident comes at a time when insecurity acts are increasing in Mandera particularly those quarry workers who are the target of the attacks. Kenyan police revealed on 16th June, 2025 that the corpse of Naftali Wanjohi who was aged 40 was found in a quarry stone site which lies in Quramadhoo settlement that is near El Wak.
The police suspect the involvement of suspected Al-shabab militants although the investigations did not produce an outcome and did not led the arrest of the perpetrators of the abduction.
Attacks have renewed the fear of quarry workers that do not originate from the settlements in Mandera which are marred by violent acts of insecurity carried out by extremists and the reason is that it is near the border with Somalia.
The Kenyan gov’t responded by shutting the quarry work. In response to the latest situations, the regional governor has ordered to immediately halt the quarry work that is underway in Mandera. He said that the insecurity perils have increased that there is a need to provide security to the quarry workers.
