The Anti-Terrorism police unit successfully apprehended two individuals suspected to be al Shabaab operatives in Manderta East.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspects planned to orchestrate an abduction of foreign nationals who were working at a sewer line construction site within Mandera township.
The prime suspect is said to have recently found a way into the country from El-ade in Somalia, DCI said.
Once he successfully sneaked in, DCI said he forged a number of documents with an aim of identifying as a Kenyan nationality.
After his arrest, he was interrogated and the agency revealed that he had a local associate who he was to pay Sh100,000 to orchestrate the abduction before he and another associate facilitated the to-be victims’ movement to El-ade at a Sh300,000 fee.
”Consequently, another operation was conducted early this morning, where another suspect was cornered and arrested at Metameta area within Mandera township by a multi-agency security team,” DCI said.
The suspects are currently being held in custody undergoing further probe ahead of their arraignment.
They are expected to be charged with serious offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).
This comes after Kenyans raised security concerns following the kidnapping of five local chiefs by suspected Al Shabaab militants in Mandera earlier in the month.
The militants have since demanded a ransom of Sh7 million to release the four.
Source: The Star
