Five police officers were killed and eight others wounded in an ambush by Al-Shabaab militants on Tuesday in the Rakei area of Boni Forest, Lamu County.

Lamu Police Commissioner Wesley Koech has revealed that initial intelligence suggests more than 70 suspected militia members tried to cross into Lamu through Bodhei, coming from Garissa.

However, they were intercepted by officers from the Special Operations Group (SOG).

After the clash, the injured officers and the remains of those killed were flown to Nairobi for further attention.

The incident took place about 3 kilometers from Lamu town, where Commissioner Koech suggested that the Al-Shabaab militants may have been attempting to cross the border to launch attacks.

He urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and promptly report any unusual behavior or suspicious actions by unfamiliar individuals in their communities.