Monday, June 01, 2015
The government says "footprints" of terrorism found in Dadaab boost its case for the quicker closure of the refugee camp.
Mr Haron Komen, Commissioner for Refugee Affairs, told the Nation on Sunday the government would "remind" partners of the need to close the camp as soon as possible after evidence emerged the recent attack was planned in the camp.
“We have footprints that show the attack originated from the camp. So, it is either refugees, terrorist sympathisers or terrorists themselves hiding there who did it,” he said.
“This strengthens our case to hasten closure of the camp. In fact we are headed to Mogadishu on Tuesday to remind them of the need to close the camp. We are also consulting with UNHCR,” he added.
AMBUSH
Mr Komen was referring to last week’s ambush on a police convoy at Yumbis, five kilometres from Dadaab. One officer was killed, his colleagues injured and five vehicles burnt.
The Nation learnt security agents in Garissa were briefed on the location of the attackers and the landmines planted on the Fafi-Hagadera road, an intelligence report shows.
Ms Kadra Mohammed, a registered refugee at Hagadera, hosted the terrorists on the eve of the Yumbis attack, says the report.
The report also names Abdirahman Abu Hurey, Kafi Iltria and a Sheikh Yusuf, all from the refugee sub-camp, as suspects. They are also believed to have played a key role in last year’s attacks in Mandera, where 58 people were killed.
Mr Ibare Haret and a Mr Abdiweli, who runs a pharmacy, are also said to support the terrorists.
The attackers hid at the Hagadera refugee camp but police felt it was too risky to launch an operation.
Hagadera is the oldest of the five sub-camps and currently has the largest population, hosting 103,801 Somali refugees, according to the latest data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Others are Kambios, Ifo I&II and Dagahaley.