Lamu: Over 200 families flee their homes after 5 people beheaded by Al-Shabaab

More than 200 families living in two villages in Lamu which were raided by armed men suspected to be Al-Shabaab on Saturday night have fled their homes in fear of another attack.

The families have pitched a tent at a school following the attack that left five people dead and houses torched.

Citizen TV visited Juhudi Primary School in Salama village, Lamu County at around 7am on Wednesday and found families packing their bedding after spending the night there.

When dawn breaks, the families retreat to their homes; this has been the norm for the last three nights since the events of Saturday where suspected Al-Shabaab militants beheaded five people, causing widespread fear.

“Chenye kimefanya tulalae hapa ni uoga; tunahofia maisha yetu. Huko tunakaa na wasiwasi tuliambiwa usalama utaletwa lakini bado,” Teresia Ngaria, a resident said.

 “Tumetoka majumbani mwetu kulala hapa shuleni sababu ya Al-Shabaab...tunahofia ukilala ndani ya nyumba utachomewa ndani,” another resident, Jane Wambui, added.

On Saturday, five people among them a Form 2 student were killed as the assailants raided homes in Salama and Juhudi Villages at night.

Residents implored the government to beef up security in the region.