Mandera East security forces have successfully apprehended two suspected Al-Shabaab operatives believed to have been planning the abduction of foreign nationals working on a sewer line construction project in Mandera township.
The swift operation, led by anti-terrorism police and based on actionable intelligence, resulted in the arrest of the prime suspect, Isaac Abdi Mohamed, also known as Kharan Abdi Hassan, a 29-year-old man who had recently infiltrated Kenya from El-Ade, Somalia.
Investigations revealed that Mohamed had forged multiple identification documents in an attempt to pass as a Kenyan citizen.
Upon extensive interrogation, authorities uncovered a sinister plot involving a Sh100,000 payment to a local accomplice who was to facilitate the kidnapping.
Mohamed and his associate, Noor Yacob Ali, 29, had allegedly planned to transport the abducted victims to El-Ade, Somalia, for a ransom of Sh300,000.
Following the revelations, security agencies launched a follow-up operation early this morning, leading to the capture of Noor Yacob Ali in Metameta area, Mandera township.
The arrest was executed by a multi-agency security team, further dismantling the suspected terror cell’s operation.
Both suspects are currently in police custody undergoing further interrogation. Authorities have indicated that they will be charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) for being members of a terrorist organization, a serious offense that carries severe legal consequences.
Security officials in Mandera continue to remain on high alert, intensifying operations to dismantle terrorist networks along the Kenya-Somalia border.
The arrest of these two individuals marks yet another victory in the ongoing efforts to curb cross-border terrorism and ensure the safety of residents and foreign workers in the region.
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