Source: www.persecution.org
Date: June 25, 2023
Kenya (International Christian Concern) — Five men were beheaded and several houses were torched in Salama-Juhudi villages, Lamu, Kenya, after an attack by the Somali-based terrorist group, al-Shabaab, on Saturday.
In a police statement Sunday morning, the 8 p.m. attack was reported by the village elder who informed them of an ambush by gunmen.
“We wish to confirm that an incident was reported to us at around 9 p.m. Saturday in Salama-Juhudi and we dispatched a team to rescue and thwart any advancement from the suspected Al-Shabaab members,” said police. “Upon arrival, we found that they had already killed people, set houses on fire and made away with livestock. Five people were confirmed dead.”
A villager who witnessed the incident confirmed that the gang numbered about 20, and that he survived by fleeing and hiding on his farm.
“I was still awake at the time the terrorist ambushed our village,” said the witness. “I heard screams coming from my neighbor’s house, and after some minutes, their house went up in flames. I knew there was danger, and I could not leave anything to chance.
“They went on attacking people and burning houses, and after an hour, they arrived at my home. I saw a large group of about 20, and some of them went to the pen and carried away all my seven goats.”
Police said the five victims were tied with ropes and had their throats slit.
“All the deceased were men, and one of them was a 19-year old student who had come home for term break,” police said. “All the victims were murdered in cold blood with some tied with ropes in their hands and legs with ropes behind their backs and butchered and others blindfolded and then executed.”
In addition, police said that eight houses were completely burned and livestock was stolen.
Villagers have fled their homes for fear of being attacked again since it has become the norm for the al-Qaeda linked Muslim terrorists to return and carry out more attacks. This was the second incident after a year and half when Salama-Juhudi villages were attacked. In January 2022, two men were killed and five houses burned down.
The killings come a week after three security officers were killed by terrorists as they rushed to rescue their colleagues involved in another attack in Pandanguo, Lamu, about 30 kilometers away from Salama-Juhudi.
HOW TO PRAY: Pray for healing for those who lost loved ones in this attack. Pray for provision for those who lost their homes and livestock. Pray for the attackers to come to know the love of Jesus.