Three police officers were killed and three others seriously injured after their car ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) along the Banisa-Tabaka highway in Mandera County.

The police officers were patrolling close to the Kenya-Somalia border when they were waylaid by the suspected al-Shabaab gunmen at around 6am on Friday.

Police say there were engaged in a fierce gunfight with the attackers who advanced towards the Kenya-Somalia border before they militants were overpowered by Kenyan forces.

The wounded officer have been airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment after receiving initial medical attention at the Banisa sub-county hospital.

The National Police Service confirmed the attack Friday and said the area had been secured as Kenyans authorities pursue the armed attackers.