- Two Al-Shabaab suspects were arrested while allegedly planning an operation in Mandera.
- Prime suspect, Isaac Abdi Mohamed, sneaked into Kenya from Somalia with forged documents.
- The plan involved abducting foreign nationals working on a construction project.
- Accomplice Noor Yacob Ali was arrested after a follow-up operation.
- Both suspects are in custody and will face terrorism-related charges under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).
Detectives have arrested two suspected Al-Shabaab operatives in Mandera for allegedly plotting an abduction within the county.
According to a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) dated February 18, anti-terrorism police in Mandera East apprehended the duo, who had planned to kidnap a team of foreign nationals working at a sewer line construction site within Mandera Township.
How the Arrests Were Made
Acting on intelligence, detectives swiftly arrested the prime suspect, Isaac Abdi Mohamed, alias Kharan Abdi Hassan.
- The 29-year-old had allegedly sneaked into Kenya from El-Ade, Somalia and forged documents to pass as a Kenyan.
- Investigations revealed that Abdi was to pay 100,000 to a local associate who would assist in the abduction.
- The kidnapped victims were to be transported to El-Ade for a Ksh300,000 ransom fee.
Second Arrest and Charges
Following intelligence leads, a multi-agency security team launched a second operation on the morning of February 18, where they cornered and arrested Noor Yacob Ali in Metameta, Mandera Township.
Both suspects remain in custody and are undergoing further interrogation before being arraigned for terrorism-related offenses under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).
