NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 7 – The Al Shabaab miliitia has demanded a Sh7 million ransom for five chiefs kidnapped from Northern Kenya.
This is after a group of elders picked to pursue their freedom established where they are being held.
Villagers in the area are raising money for their release amid a push for the government to take over the issue.
On Wednesday, there were separate meetings held in Mandera and Nairobi to raise the funds.
“This is likely to raise concerns about 60 other people including security agents who are being held by the terrorists in Somalia .The individuals include Kenya Defence Forces soldiers who were taken hostage from El Ade area and are being held in Jilb region, others are locals,” the Officials said.
They revealed that another fund raising event is being conducted to raise over Sh2 million for the release of a soldier from Wajir being held in Jilib since January 2016.
The harambee was commenced after a video circulated of him appealing to Kenya for help in order to secure his release from his abductors.
According to Authorities, the five administrators were traveling to Elwak when they were ambushed and abducted by the militants between Bamba Owla and Ires Suki.
Mandera South Police Commander Julius Njeru confirmed the incident, stating that the victims were en route from Wargadud to Elwak when the attack occurred.
The attack follows a deadly incident two months ago, when suspected Al-Shabaab militants ambushed a security officer in Lafey, Mandera County.
The officer, who was attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), was killed in the December 9 attack, which took place at around 10:30 a.m.
The assailants also seized a police vehicle before fleeing the scene.
Authorities later discovered the officer’s body abandoned near the attack site.
Another individual, who was inside the police vehicle during the assault, was found in nearby bushes with serious injuries.
President William Ruto on Tuesday directed the National Police Service (NPS) to take immediate action to secure the North Eastern region following the recent abduction of the five chiefs by suspected Al-Shabaab militants.
Speaking in Mandera during his week-long development tour in the North Eastern region Ruto assured residents that the government remains steadfast in its fight against terrorism and criminal elements.
He vowed a sustained crackdown on terrorist activities, stressing that Kenya would not cede any part of its territory to militants.
“Peace and stability are critical to our country’s progress. We are battling criminal elements of different kinds, and we are winning this war against crime and terrorism,” Ruto said.
