It took RECCE squad officers 12 minutes to defeat the terrorists- 10 hours in to the siege

Thursday morning, sounds of gunfire and explosions characterized Garissa University as armed gunmen engaged policemen and KDF officers in a fierce exchange. The battle lasted for more than 9 hours as everyone ran up and down scampering for safety

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By mid day, there was no break through as the hostage situation continued. Late afternoon, more KDF soldiers were deployed to the university as the gunmen continued the wanton killings. Determined to avoid a Westgate type of hostage situation, the government made a drastic decision (10 hours in to the operation with more that 100 students dead).

Minutes after 4 pm, 18 members of the elite RECCE squad departed the Wilson airport in Nairobi headed to Garissa with the sole purpose of neutralizing the attackers. By 5 pm, the RECCE officers landed  at the Garissa airstrip and headed straight to the university where the standoff between KDF and the terrorists was still on

Related: RECCE Officers were paid Sh 500 as lunch allowance after the Garissa Operation

Within no time, heavy gunfire rent the air as they engaged the gun men in a fierce gun battle. 12 minutes later, the mission was accomplished. Al gunmen lay dead, all shot in the head as the RECCE squad avoided hitting the suicide jackets worn by the terrorists. One RECCE squad officer also lost his life after he was hit by a grenade while 7 others were injured after they were hit by exploding shrapnel

The seven who were injured are currently receiving treatment at the Moi Forces memorial hospital

By 9 pm, Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery declared the 14 hours siege that claimed the lives of 147 students, and left more than 70 others injured officially over. The rescued students were taken in to the Garissa military camp where they spent the night. Nkaissery and a host of other government officials visited them on Friday morning

The shaken students who survived the attack were counselled by Kenya Red Cross officials while others took time to comfort each other. The government delegation also visited the injured in hospital as security officers began mopping up the scene and prepared the bodies for evacuation to Nairobi

For now, Garissa town remain under lock and key as the government enforces a dusk to dawn curfew

For the students, it will be a long drive back home, hoping to forget the events of the fateful Thursday morning