Anti-terrorism police unit officers have arrested two suspected Al-Shabaab operatives in Mandera County.
In an update on Tuesday, February 18, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the two suspects had planned to abduct foreign nationals working at a sewer line construction site within Mandera township.
“Anti-terrorism police in Mandera East have arrested two suspected Al-Shabaab operatives, who had planned the abduction of a team of foreign nationals working at a sewer line construction site within Mandera township,” read part of the DCI statement.
The investigative agency noted that the Anti-terror officers arrested the prime suspect, Isaac Abdi Mohamed alias Kharan Abdi Hassan following an intelligence tip.
Mohamed is said to have sneaked into the country from El-ade in Somalia and forged a number of documents to identify as a Kenyan.
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“On keen scrutiny and thorough interrogation, it was discovered that the suspect was to pay Sh 100,000 to his local associate, who would assist in the abduction exercise before he and another, Noor Yacob Ali, 29 facilitated the to-be victims' movement to El-ade at a Sh 300,000 fee,” DCI stated.
A multi-agency security team conducted an operation on Tuesday morning and apprehended Mohamed’s associate Yacob Ali.
“Consequently, another operation was conducted early this morning, where Yacob Ali was cornered and arrested at Metameta area within Mandera township by a multi-agency security team.
The two suspects have been booked in custody undergoing further interrogation ahead of their arraignment for being members of a terrorist group.
