Tuesday September 29, 2015
Security officers on Tuesday September 29, 2015 inspect some of the weapons recovered following a sting operation that led to the arrest of four Al-Shabaab suspects at Ifo refugee camp in Dadaab, Garissa County over the weekend. PHOTO | ABDIMALIK HAJIR | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Four people suspected to be members of Al-Shabaab have been arrested at the Ifo refugee camp in Dadaab, Garissa County.
A combined team of security officers over the weekend arrested the four and seized assorted arms in a sting operation.
Addressing journalists in his office on Tuesday morning, North Eastern Regional Coordinator Mohamud Saleh said that on receiving a tip-off, security officers immediately cordoned off the scene and arrested the suspects.
The officers seized three AK-47 rifles, 92 rounds of ammunitions, seven magazines, eight magazine pouches, four first aid kits, six mobile phones and over 200 mobile phone motherboards believed to be used in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Mr Saleh said police were interrogating the suspects aged between 19 and 24, noting that they have already gotten crucial information that will help the security agents in combating the Somali-based terror group that has killed hundreds of Kenyans in the past.
THANKED RESIDENTSThe administrator thanked residents for their renewed cooperation that they are according security officers in the region by giving information on Al-Shabaab operatives and their accomplices.
He assured Kenyans volunteering information that their identities would remain anonymous and all the information kept in confidence.
He urged them not be intimidated by Al-Shabaab.
This is third time security officers in Garissa have arrested suspects and recovered weapons.
Last month, a cache of dangerous weapons were recovered and six suspected Al-Shabaab suspects arrested.
GET RID OF AL-SHABAAB“We have all the information on strategies, movement, hideouts, strength and capabilities of Al-Shabaab.
“We must get rid of Al-Shabaab in Kenya once and for all,” said the regional coordinator.
He said security along the Kenya-Somalia border has been heightened because remnants of Al-Shabaab who have been defeated inside war-torn Somalia are trying to cross over to Kenya.
“Very soon Al-Shabaab will be history in this country. They have been smoked out of Somalia and they don’t have anywhere to run to because we have increased our surveillance everywhere,” he told journalists in his office.