In the past two weeks, at least six people have been arrested in connection with being Al-shabaab recruits. With recent attacks in Lamu and the old town being under curfew as a result, the question of National security being under threat is inevitable.
Police in Moyale recently arrested two foreigners who were en route to Somali to join Al-shabaab terror group. Abdiraham Shaffi Mkwatili and Sadam Jafari Kitia of 25 and 30 years of age respectively, were busted on Wednesday.
The police reported finding a notebook on them, which appeared to be a map, as it had Swahili inscribed instructions in it. Suspects Abdiraham and Sadam, confirmed that they were Al-shabaab recruits and were on their way to Jilib from Tanzania. The police also added that the notebook trick was a growing trend among terror recruits.
“The suspects revealed that they were indeed heading to Somalia to join Al-Shabaab after being recruited and facilitated by their handlers in Tanzania. This is a trend that we have noted with recruits travelling to join either Al-Shabaab or Daesh, that they are provided with travel arrangements avoiding communications while on the way or asking people about the route to avoid raising suspicion.”
Unnamed Police source
This arrest comes only two weeks after three other Tanzanian citizens were arrested in the same area. Abdul Saif Salimu, Zuberi Ngare Mtondoo and Seif Abdalla Juma were apprehended en route to Somalia, linked with being Al-shabaab recruits. On the same note, a Ugandan citizen was seized in Liboi, his destination, Somalia. The arrest of this Ugandan national was made possible through the involvement of security agencies and members of the community.
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In the early hours of Friday morning, three different attacks were reported from three different locations within Mandera. At around 0130 hours, Al-shabaab millitants attacked Iseruki area, ambushing three police officers that were guarding the post. They overpowered the officers and destroyed the Safaricom mast they were manning, which is 15 kilometers away from Elwak Police Station. The whereabouts of National Police Reservist- Abdirahman Bashir, who alerted the police about the attack and the two officers he was with are still unknown.
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Around the same time of the same night, Wargudad police station was also attacked by Al-shabaab militants. As a result, there has been loss of network between Elwak and Wargudad area. As investigations into the attacks and arrests continue, the police, security agencies and members of community are being urged to be on the look out for suspicious strangers and activities.
