MANDERA, Kenya, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan security forces on Sunday launched a manhunt for a group of al-Shabab militants who stormed a village in Mandera County in the northeast region and abducted five people.

Jeremiah Kossoim, Mandera county police commander said the five were abducted in Fino location and driven in one of the hostage's vehicles.

"On reaching Kursi area within Damasa, they abandoned the rest and proceeded towards the Somali border with Adan Mohammed Salat. Security agents are on the ground pursuing the same," said Kossoim.

Fino is about six kilometers away from the main Kenya-Somalia border. The area has been facing a number of attacks from the militants who targeted communication masts. Several of the communication masts have in the past been destroyed in a bid to cut police from immediate response.

The Somali militants have been abducting civilians and also targeting military and police vehicles either by laying an ambush or planting explosives on the road in the northeast region especially in Mandera and Garissa counties.

A number of civilians and security personnel have died as a result of the attacks that include improvised explosive devices placed on roadsides by al-Shabab militants. Enditem

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