by CYRUS OMBATI
Friday February 10, 2023
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations Thursday appealed to members of the public to volunteer information that may lead to the arrest of five dangerous terror suspects, linked to the al-Shabaab terror network.
Four of the suspects are responsible for recent attacks against civilians and security forces in Lamu County and within the larger Boni enclave while one was involved in the Garissa University attack in 2014, which led to the death of 147 innocent people, DCI Mohamed Amin said.
Ramadhan Hamisi Kufungwa commands al-Shabaab fighters and coordinates attacks from Somalia targeting innocent Kenyans.He is the link person to Kassim Musa Mwarusi, a fugitive responsible for executing attacks in Boni and the movement of recruits to join al-Shabaab and other terror groups from Kenya.
The second suspect Issa Abdalla Ahmed alias Issa Kauni, URWA/ORWA, Jafar from Malindi in Kilifi County, joined al-Shabaab and travelled to Somalia in 2014.
He has been involved in several previous attacks in the country and has risen through the ranks to become a member of the suicide brigade.
He is currently involved in planning attacks against targets within the country, the DCI said.
Ahmed Omar Said alias Dogo Tabibu, Bilal also from Malindi in Kilifi County joined the Shabaab terror network in 2016 and was attached to the Jaysh Ayman Brigade, where he participated in several attacks within the Boni Forest.
The fourth suspect Maalim Yussuf Hassan Abdullahi alias Isaack Hassan Abdullahi, Maalim Yussuf Abdullahi Ibrahim is wanted for the killing of three teachers at Qarsa in 2018 and the assassination of a local assistant chief in Gumurey, Wajir County in December 2020.
The last suspect has been identified as Maalim Abbas alias Abbas Guyo.
He is linked to the planning of the Garissa University College attack in April 2014 where one hundred and 148 people lost their lives among other attacks in the country.
This came hours after the US embassy in Nairobi Thursday issued a terror alert warning its citizens terrorists may target high-traffic areas frequented by foreigners and tourists in Nairobi and elsewhere in Kenya. This is the first alert this year.
It is out of intelligence the terrorists may be planning an attack in Nairobi.
The embassy said the locations continue to be attractive targets to terrorists planning to conduct potentially imminent attacks.
“Terrorist groups could attack with little or no warning, targeting hotels, embassies, restaurants, malls and markets, schools, police stations, places of worship, and other places frequented by foreigners and tourists,” an alert issued said.
It added the government of Kenya has increased counterterrorism patrols.
The embassy wants its citizens to exercise vigilance at locations frequented by tourists/foreigners, review their personal security plans and be aware of their surroundings.
Officials said they believe dozens of al-Shabaab terrorists may have slipped into the city from Somalia and are planning an attack.
This follows ongoing operations in Somalia targeting the terror group.
Kenya has been a victim of terrorism on several occasions. \
The terrorists usually breach the main Kenya-Somalia border and attack at will which has left dozens dead and others injured.
]Kenya police said they have upped their patrols and operations to address the new fears.