Al-Shabaab Militants Abduct Five Kenyan Chiefs in Mandera
Suspected members of the outlawed al-Shabaab terrorist group have reportedly kidnapped five local chiefs in Mandera County.
The incident occurred on Monday as the chiefs were traveling to Elwak Town for an official assignment.
Mandera South Police Commander Julius Njeru confirmed that the abducted chiefs were from the administrative units of Wargadud East, Qurahmudow, and Chachabole.
They were in a vehicle headed to Elwak when the militants hijacked it between Bamba Owla and Ires Suki in Mandera South.
Security agencies, operating under Kenya’s Special Operations Group (SOG), responded quickly to the abduction.
However, their efforts were hindered when their convoy was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED), delaying the rescue mission.
The insurgents took advantage of the situation and managed to escape with the kidnapped administrators.
Mandera County has long struggled with al-Shabaab attacks, with local leaders and security personnel frequently targeted by the militant group.
Over the years, similar incidents have been reported, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the region.
In 2017, suspected al-Shabaab gunmen assassinated a senior chief and kidnapped two police reservists in Mandera. A week before that, another abduction had taken place in Elwak.
These recurring attacks have raised concerns about the safety of government officials and civilians in border regions.
Authorities are actively investigating how the five chiefs were abducted while on duty and are working to track down the perpetrators.
The Ministry of Interior has acknowledged the incident but stated that an official statement will be released later.
This latest abduction comes amid past cases of al-Shabaab-linked kidnappings in the county. In 2019, two Cuban doctors working in Mandera were abducted, an incident that shocked the nation.
Later, in 2022, a former Mandera County government driver, Issack Robow, was convicted for aiding the militants in executing the kidnapping.
Milimani Law Courts Magistrate Martha Nanzushi ruled that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to prove that Robow played a role in the abduction.
“After evaluating the evidence on record, I find that the prosecution has proved the charges against the accused person, and I convict him accordingly under section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC),” she stated.
As security agencies continue their search for the missing chiefs, residents in Mandera remain on high alert, fearing further attacks from the terror group.
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