NAIROBI, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan police killed an al-Shabab militant and recovered money, a rifle and handset radio during a fierce gunfight in Mandera county, northeast region on Saturday.

The police said on Sunday the deceased was among five al-Shabab militants who were spotted at Ali Wol Dam in Fino area by security officers who were conducting prolonged patrol operations in the area.

"The security team responded immediately where they encountered a group of five al-Shabab militants. The team managed to gun down one al-Shabab, recovering one AK rifle, money and handset radio," the police said in an incident report.

According to the police, a security operation is currently underway to track other injured militants believed to have crossed the porous border with Somalia.

The Mandera county has been experiencing a rise of attacks in the recent past in which civilians and police have been killed or injured and almost a dozen communication masts have been destroyed.

The militants have been targeting communication masts, schools and residential houses rented by communities that are not native to the volatile northeastern Kenyan counties of Garissa, Mandera and Wajir.

The police and local government officials say the border region has borne the brunt of repeated attacks from the militants who are at times aided by locals. Enditem

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