Public Works PS Maryam El-Maawy was shot on the upper left side of her chest, fractured her hand and sustained severe burns. Al Shabaab militias pounced on them at Milihoi area on the Lamu-Mpeketoni highway on Thursday.
The PS was rescued by KDF officers who responded swiftly after the Miliholi attack which left two dead and several others injured. The militias hijacked a vehicle carrying El-Maawy and a lorry during the 3pm incident. They were driven into the Boni Forest.
They also abducted a lorry turn boy before allowing the driver identified as Edward Karisa to proceed with his trip. He was bundled in the land cruiser but later managed to escape from the hands of the deadly attackers.
Police, in their report on the incident, said the El Maawy’s car rolled and burst into flames after it was intercepted by KDF officers. The officers were on rescue mission upon learning that the PS and her assistants had been hijacked.
The soldiers rushed the PS to Mpeketoni sub-county hospital where doctors advised that she be airlifted to Nairobi.
“She was flown to Manda Navy base in Lamu awaiting evacuation to Nairobi for further treatment,” the report states.The PS is currently undergoing treatment in Nairobi. Police said one of the bodies recovered at the scene was burnt beyond recognition.
“The other, which had identification documents, was taken to Mpeketoni sub-county hospital mortuary,” police said.
The identified body is that of Godana Poran and is believed to have been with the PS at the time of the attack. Top security officials who visited the scene included Lamu County Commander Perminus Kioi and area OCPD Zachary Kimani. Lamu West Sub County AP Commander Joseph Kigen and the ‘Operation Linda Boni’ security team also visited the scene.
The attack paralysed transport for several hours as police launched a major joint operation to flush out the hostiles. Lamu has of late experienced terror attacks. This includes the Pandanguo attack where two police officers were shot dead.
Days later, seven locals were beheaded at Poromoko. Last month, more than 100 heavily armed members of al Shabaab militia were reportedly spotted at Milihoi area.