Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) to Haiti spokesperson Jack Ombaka has flagged a viral video of missing Kenyan police officer Benedict Kabiru in the hands of Haitian gangs.
Speaking on Saturday during an interview, Ombaka dismissed the video, saying it was part of propaganda by the gangs in Haiti.
“One thing that is clear here in Haiti is that many of the gangs thrive on propaganda. That video is in circulation, and more so in the advent of AI, it is very unlikely that it is a video of Benedict circulating.
“When we came here, the gangs were thriving on propaganda, and a lot of mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that they don’t use social media to spread the same propaganda,” said Ombaka.
The MSS spokesperson noted that the search of the missing officer is still ongoing and there are working with the local Haiti population, Haitian government and international partners to locate the officer.
Read More
“We are still establishing where the officer is, he is still missing in action, and we are using all the available resources. I am happy to report that we are making good progress, and all the actors, the local Haitian population, the Haitian government, and international partners are helping us to trace the officer,” he stated.
The Kenyan officer was reported missing after Haitian gangs ambushed MSS officers in the Pont-Sonde area.
The incident occurred after a Haitian National Police (HNP) armored vehicle got stuck in a ditch suspected to have been dug by the gangs, and two Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles were deployed to help recover the vehicle.
However, one of the MRAPs also got stuck, while the other developed a mechanical issue, and while the officers were resolving the issue, the Haiti gangs ambushed them.
“Unfortunately, during the recovery operation, one of the MRAPs also got stuck, while the other developed a mechanical issue. As the rescue teams attempted to resolve the situation, suspected gang members lying in wait launched an attack. As a result of the incident, one MSS Kenyan contingent officer remains unaccounted for,” Ombaka said in a statement on March 26.
