Mandera county Commissioner denies reports on release of abducted chiefs

Mandera County Commissioner Henry Ochako has stated that they are yet to see the five chiefs who were abducted while traveling to Elwak from Wargadud weeks ago, a day before President William Ruto visited North Eastern.

Ochako said that he first heard about the release of the five from a section of the media, and until they see them, they cannot confirm their release.

“I cannot confirm or deny the information because we have not yet seen them. Until they are on our side, then we cannot say they have been released,” the county commissioner stated.

A section of the media reported that the five, including Mohammed Adawa, Mohammed Hassan, Mohammed Noor, Assistant Chief Ibrahim Gabow, and Senior Chief Abdi Suraw, were released by the Al-Shabaab militia yesterday afternoon after a negotiation with the elders.

The unconfirmed reports stated that the five were handed over to the Garreh elders in Jilb, and plans are underway to bring them back to Elwak, Kenya.

The five chiefs and assistant chiefs were hijacked and forcibly taken by gunmen in February, at the Elwak area in Mandera County, just a day before President Ruto visited the Northern Kenya region, which he termed as an effort to scare him from visiting the area.

“These people thought that I would not come if they did what they did yesterday. I not only came to Mandera, but I am also going to sleep here. If I want, I can also sleep here again because this is part of Kenya. I want to make it clear that every part of Kenya is important and we are not going to cede an inch of our country to criminals and those who want to unleash mayhem,”  he stated during the visit.

The chiefs were traveling in a Mazda vehicle, which belongs to Chief Mohamednur Hache, when they were intercepted by the militants.

A ransom was reportedly demanded, though it remains unclear whether it was honoured or how much was paid.

The government has been relying on local leaders for negotiations.