- The Somalia security agencies are currently fighting al-Shabaab in areas that the terror group enjoyed significant control in parts of central and southern Somalia.
- The situation has witnessed cases of fighters associated with the group from fleeing to avoid becoming victims.
Image: FILE
Security personnel in Garissa and Wajir counties are holding seven al-Shabaab operatives of Tanzania and Ethiopia origin who had sneaked into the country following the sustained offensives against the group in Somalia.
The Somalia security agencies are currently fighting al-Shabaab in areas that the terror group enjoyed significant control in parts of central and southern Somalia.
The situation has witnessed cases of fighters associated with the group from Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia fleeing to avoid becoming victims.
In the month of November 2022, the National Police Service arrested Baraka Yusuf, a 38-year-old Tanzanian at Liboi, in Garissa county, while running away from Somalia.
He crossed into the country together with three other Kenyan al-Shabaab fighters who managed to escape the police dragnet.
The police are pursuing the three and are appealing the public to volunteer any information that could lead to their arrest even as they increase surveillance along the Kenya-Somalia border to monitor any movements of those who might infiltrate the country.
At the same time, five Ethiopians were also arrested while fleeing from the militant group through Kenya, citing a hostile environment as the reasons for their escape.
The five - Nur Osman Chawo, Suleiman Kadu Shale, Mohamed Abdulkadir Jibich, Ridwan Haji Abdulbasir and Anwar Jamal Hajiwadow revealed to the security officers that they were recruited and taken to Somalia for training and thereafter enlisted to fight in different parts of Somalia.
The revelations by the arrested militants is helping the police to enhance the patrols along the border, particularly the routes and areas they are likely to use to access the country.
Further interview report indicates that some of the fighters were promised monetary gains to a tune of Sh20,000 for them to join al-Shabaab but that did not materialise.
They said upon reaching Somalia, they were threatened and forced to remain with the terror group.
North Eastern regional commissioner James Kianda also confirmed that the government was closely monitoring the ongoing situation in Somalia and more security personnel drawn from different formations have been deployed to police the border.
He said security personnel are aware that more militants are likely to sneak back from Somalia and hide among the communities.
The upsurge may be due to what is believed to be a hostile operation environment that is making it difficult for non-Somalia residents to operate.
He reported that those arrested by security officers have confessed that they were tricked into travelling to Somalia with promises of well-paying job opportunities.
However, on arrival, they were shocked to find that they had been trapped into a two-year mandatory training by the militants.
Others say they were lured by being given expensive gifts and being sent money through their mobile phones.
It is believed more than about 50 youth have escaped from the terror group’s hostile training camps and operational areas in Somalia and are likely to be back in the country.
Kianda said the recent victory of Somalia National Army in seizing Adan Yabaal, an area within Middle Shabelle region, north of Mogadishu, that was formerly under al-Shabaab control, signals that they (militants) are losing the war.
“Following this, there will be an increase in cases of returnees escaping to Kenya as they try to avoid capture by Somali security forces and we are requesting that all cases of returnees sighted within one’s local area be reported by calling toll free the DCI on 0800 722 203 or the National Counter Terrorism Centre hotline 0800 721 600 ,” he said
He said the returnees can also surrender themselves to the nearest police station.
(edited by Amol Awuor)