Somali National Linked to Mandera Kidnapping Plot Allegedly Sought Kenyan Identification
In the remote and arid expanses of Mandera County, an air of tension hangs heavily over the desolate landscape. A seemingly ordinary morning was disrupted by an alarming development: detectives had detained two individuals linked to an unsettling conspiracy. Their objective? To abduct foreigners engaged in a pivotal government project, which, ironically, promises to bring much-needed infrastructure improvements to this marginalised region.
The two men, as disclosed by Mandera County Criminal Investigations Officer Pius Gitari, are not mere petty criminals but are suspected to be operatives aligned with the sinister undertakings of al-Shabaab. As Gitari conveyed over a crackling phone line, “We’re holding them on suspicion of coordinating terror activities in this far-flung county. Interrogations are currently underway.”
Suspicion swirls around Isaack Abdi Mohamed, also known by the alias Kharan Abdi Hassan, and his associate, Noor Yakub Ali. These individuals are now in the custody of the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) at the Mandera Police Station. A chain of sinister events underscores their arrest: Isaack’s recent illicit crossing into Kenya and the duplicitous acquisition of Kenyan identity documents. With such documents, moving unencumbered through the region became a facilitated endeavor, enhancing the threat looming over the county.
A police report painted a vivid picture of Abdi’s elaborate ploy. It stated that co-conspirator Noor Yakub Ali was complicit in these schemes. Did they plan to target international specialists and abduct them from the heart of Mandera township? It seems so. In a startling revelation, Abdi confessed to intentions to seize doctors— including Chinese nationals. His confession, uttered under the unyielding scrutiny of law enforcement officers, points to a malevolent pact with Ali. Remarkably, the execution of this sinister plan was thwarted by a timely arrest in the bustling yet wary streets of Mandera township.
When Abdi arrived, purportedly from El-Ade in Somalia, he had bribed a local with a sum of Sh100,000 to facilitate the kidnap of these vital expatriate workers. Irony drips from this unsettling collaboration, as he plotted to disrupt a project conceived to improve the very community they were scheming against. The Mandera Water and Sewerage project, initiated in 2018 and led by Sinohydro Corporation Limited—a Chinese firm—was not merely an infrastructure project but a symbol of progressive aspiration.
Mandera’s tumultuous history has borne witness to projects marred by insecurity and global crises such as the Coronavirus pandemic in 2019. The security preparations at the onset of the project included a suggested housing arrangement for foreign workers at a local military base, which the Chinese partners declined. As fate would have it, intelligence recently surfaced like light piercing through a cloudy day, ultimately leading to the apprehension of these suspects. The planned abduction, with an arranged transport deal to El-Ade for a hefty Sh300,000, was narrowly averted.
History is a stern teacher often repeating its lessons. On April 12, 2020, the county reeled from an event all too familiar. Al-Shabaab insurgents stealthily abducted two Cuban doctors from their daily commute, spiriting them away into the daunting unknown that lay across the border in Somalia. Dr Assel Herrera Correa and Dr Landy Rodriguez Hernandez vanished without a trace, leaving heartbreak and uncertainty in their wake. Their remains unseen, like phantoms lost to time.
A police officer, Constable Mutundo Kitambo, paid the ultimate price during the incident, a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk in such perilous zones. Meanwhile, a subsequent trial sentenced Issack Ibrein Robow, their driver, to life imprisonment on terrorism charges, adding an unsettling layer to the tragedy.
The recent detention of the two suspects came amid intensified security operations. Presently, Mandera is a scene of tense vigilance following the abduction of five chiefs spirited away into Somalia’s embrace. In a harrowing testament to familial devotion, their relatives confirmed that these chiefs are being held separately in Somalia’s turbulent Jilib area. Local clan elders are diligently negotiating for their safe return, a beacon of hope in an otherwise grim landscape.
In Elwak, another shadowy tale unfolds. Two police officers find themselves held accountable after a terror suspect made a daring escape from the Elwak Police Station, taking advantage of a court session in February. The name Muse Muhumed Abdule now echoes through the corridors of vigilance.
What lies ahead for Mandera in this climate of foreboding uncertainty? The community perseveres, a resilient force against adversities. With faith in their guardians and a hopeful gaze toward the horizon, they march on.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
