Todonyang village in Turkana North has remained desolate since February 22, when assailants from neighbouring Ethiopia launched a horrific attack in the area.

A brutal Saturday afternoon shooting left nearly 50 people missing, many of whom are feared dead.

By yesterday afternoon, one more body had been recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to three. Panic still gripped Todonyang following the attack.

Saturday marked eight days since the bloody assault, which was reportedly carried out by assailants believed to be from the Dassanech tribe of Ethiopia.

For the entire week, life in the sleepy village had been replaced by a desperate search for the nearly 50 missing people.

Government authorities confirmed yesterday that the discovery of one body had reduced the number of missing persons from 47 to 46 and raised the death toll to three.

Turkana County Commander Daniel Kinyua confirmed that the body was found in Natira, on the shores of Lake Turkana, and said a postmortem would be conducted to determine the cause of death.

Distressed locals believe the missing persons were shot by the attackers, who crossed the border and carried out indiscriminate killings along the shore, an area known for its thriving fishing activities.

As the search for more bodies continued, led by the Red Cross and security agencies, locals recalled the unprecedented afternoon attack.

The assault began at 2pm, targeting fishermen and fish vendors going about their daily work. Armed with firearms, machetes, and clubs, the attackers surrounded the lakeshore and launched a three-hour attack, according to residents.

“The assailants were merciless. They fired at fleeing fishermen, vendors, and villagers. Others beat and butchered anyone in sight with machetes and clubs,” a resident said.

The resident believes the attackers dumped the bodies in the crocodile-infested Lake Turkana.

Witnesses said many victims attempted to flee the scene as the shooting unfolded. Several locals ran towards the lake, diving into the water in a desperate attempt to avoid the barrage of bullets.

By the time the shooting stopped, several people were missing.

“I was selling fish when I heard the first gunshot,” said Amina Lelei, a fishmonger who managed to escape.

James Ekitela, a fisherman who narrowly escaped death, described the killings as a nightmare.

“I thought it was just another busy day, but then the shooting started. They came with guns and machetes, and they didn’t spare anyone. I had to run for my life,” Ekitela said.

Witnesses said that women and children were not spared.

Authorities have suggested the attack may be linked to long-standing tensions between the Turkana of Kenya and the Dassanech of Ethiopia.

The two communities have previously clashed over access to resources such as pasture, water, and territory along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.

Days before the assault, tensions over fishing rights between the two groups had reportedly escalated.

The area near the scene of the attack is rich in fish, making it a key point of conflict.

Fr Andrew Yokulula, a Catholic priest in the area, expressed concern over the killing of children.

“Whether they are Turkana or Dassanech, every child deserves to be safe,” he said.

He added: “The church does not discriminate, and we stand for peace. We must work together to protect our children and ensure that such violence does not destroy our community.”