NAIROBI (Reuters) : ‌Five Kenyan security officers were killed in a clash with suspected ​Al-Shabab militants in the county of Mandera near the Somali border, police said. The militant group has been battling for years to overthrow Somalia’s central government ‌and establish ‌its rule ​in ‌the ⁠Horn of ​Africa country, ⁠based on its own strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law. “A patrol team from SOG Alungu came into contact with Al-Shabab militants in ⁠the general area of ‌Wantey ‌Dam,” police said in a ​report, following ‌Tuesday’s clash around noon. Police ‌are pursuing the militants, they added, after a reinforcement team sent to the area was ‌hit by an improvised explosive device, which destroyed an ⁠armored ⁠vehicle, though no casualties were reported. Al-Shabab’s frequent attacks in the region frequently targets both military and civilians, with police saying in January the militants had killed a local chief and a teacher in the nearby ​county of ​Garissa.