Wednesday, October 15, 2014
DEPUTY Inspector General of Police Samuel Arachi has denied allegations that five men kidnapped by the al-Shabaab in Kiunga, Lamu East on Friday last week, have been released.
Earlier reports had indicated that the five, two drivers and their conductors abducted as they ferried Miraa from Lamu to Ijara in Garissa had been released within Somalia and were in the custody of the Kenya Defense Forces at Dobley.
Speaking to the Star on the phone yesterday, Arachi said the five had not been released and that no communication from their families indicated the same.
“I am not aware of the release of the five. I would have known. Their families too have denied the reports. We are still on with rescue operation of the five and are also hunting for the abductors and we’re optimistic about this,” he said.
Arachi said a rescue operation for the five is still on alongside the hunt for the militiamen.
He said the operation is in Boni Forest and on the Kenya-Somali border.
“We’re still pursuing the kidnappers and haven’t found anyone so far. We’ve concentrated our operation in Boni forests and areas along the Kenya-Somali border,”added Arachi.
Speaking to the Star on phone Tuesday morning, Lamu county commissioner Njenga Miiri called for patience saying security personnel are searching for the captors.
“We still believe they were taken into Somalia but we’re working round the clock to rescue them. No one has been released as is being claimed by some reports but we’re optimistic this operation will go through," he said.