Driver hurt in carjacking incident near Garissa, vehicle recovered in tense standoff

Driver hurt in carjacking incident near Garissa, vehicle recovered in tense standoff

A harrowing hijacking unfolded near Modikor on the Garissa-Dadaab road today, leaving the driver seriously injured and sparking a police manhunt for the assailants. The silver-colored saloon, with license plate KCT 756 X, belonged to a Dadaab-based court official and was travelling from Garissa when it was intercepted by a three-man gang wielding pangas. Caught unawares, the driver was brutally attacked with the concealed weapons, sustaining deep wounds. Sources told Eastleigh Voice that the gang threw the owner of the car out of the vehicle before speeding away towards Hagardera. Fortunately, the driver was rescued by other drivers heading to Garissa and rushed to the Garissa Referral Hospital for treatment. Authorities in both Dadaab and Hagardera were promptly notified, leading to a heightened police search. The stolen vehicle was later spotted in Hagardera, triggering a tense standoff. Upon realising police were closing in, the three suspects abandoned the car and fled on foot, drawing gunfire aimed at stopping them. Thankfully, no officers were injured. The incident sent shockwaves through the region, where private vehicle hijackings are uncommon. While Al-Shabab has previously targeted government and NGO vehicles, this attack against a civilian has heightened security concerns.

A harrowing hijacking unfolded near Modikor on the Garissa-Dadaab road today, leaving the driver seriously injured and sparking a police manhunt for the assailants. The silver-colored saloon, with license plate KCT 756 X, belonged to a Dadaab-based court official and was traveling from Garissa when it was intercepted by a three-man gang wielding pangas.

The Toyota probox that had been carjacked.

Caught unawares, the driver was brutally attacked with the concealed weapons, sustaining deep wounds. Sources told Eastleigh Voice that the gang threw the owner of the car out of the vehicle before speeding away towards Hagardera.

Fortunately, the driver was rescued by other drivers heading to Garissa and rushed to the Garissa Referral Hospital for treatment. Authorities in both Dadaab and Hagardera were promptly notified, leading to a heightened police search.

The stolen vehicle was later spotted in Hagardera, triggering a tense standoff. Upon realising police were closing in, the three suspects abandoned the car and fled on foot, drawing gunfire aimed at stopping them. Thankfully, no officers were injured.

The incident sent shockwaves through the region, where private vehicle hijackings are uncommon. While Al-Shabab has previously targeted government and NGO vehicles, this attack against a civilian has heightened security concerns.

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