Two Italian nationals have been rescued following an Al-Shabaab militia kidnapping in Witu, Lamu County.
The two women were among four people who were being held hostage by the militants inside Witu forest during the 4 am Thursday morning incident.
They were being held inside a car at Witu forest before a multi-agency team rescued them.
According to a police report, two bodies of men believed to have been shot dead by the militants were recovered inside an Isuzu lorry registration number KCY 224U.
The report further revealed that the militants had mounted a roadblock while donning Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) uniforms.
“The militants about 20 of them had disguised themselves as KDF officers manning the road however they were targeting to attack security vehicles patrolling the area and tourists who are usually escorted by armed police officers,” part of the police report reads.
According to the police, a vehicle belonging to the General Service Unit (GSU) which was patrolling the area was attacked by the militants. However, the GSU officers took cover and fired back at the militants who fled to the forest.
A reinforcement from multiagency teams stationed at Nyaatha and Nyangoro later arrived to assist the GSU officers in pursuing the militants.
