Al Shabaab Kidnaps 5 Chiefs Who Were Meeting To Plan For President Ruto Visit in Mandera
MANDERA, Five chiefs were on Monday, February 3 abducted by suspected members of the outlawed Al Shabaab terror group in Elwak, Mandera County.
According to North Eastern Regional Commissioner John Otieno, the five were heading towards Elwak when they were hijacked between Bamba Owla and Ires Suki. A joint security team has since been deployed to pursue the abductors.
It is reported that the officials were scheduled to meet to organise security plans ahead of President William Ruto’s scheduled visit to the region during the week.
Ruto is set to embark on a week-long tour of the North Eastern region to engage with local communities and discuss regional development priorities. Joined by his Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki, he will visit Mandera, Garissa, and Wajir Counties to evaluate ongoing projects and hold meetings with local leaders.
The suspects are thought to have escaped alongside the officials toward Somalia. In response to the incident, a multi-agency operation has been initiated.
The chiefs were from the administrative units of Wargadud East, Qurahmudow, and Chachabole and were aboard a vehicle at the time of the incident.
Kenya’s security multi-agency teams operating under the Special Operations Group (SOG) quick response unit encountered an IED attack while responding to the incident. This led to delays in the rescue efforts to help bring the five chiefs home, with the insurgents making away with the administrators.
The Ministry of Interior was yet to issue a statement on the incident by the time of going to press. Mandera County has notably been notorious for wielding al-Shabaab insurgents targeting locals and chiefs, with terror incidents reported in the previous years.
