Saturday, June 06, 2015
Security officers conducting an operation in Yumbis, Garissa County have arrested three terrorism suspects and recovered firearms.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Regional Commissioner Ambassador Mohamud Saleh also said the government is determined to drive out Al-Shabaab operatives from the country.
He called the operation a success following the arrests. The suspects are believed to have taken part in the invasion of a village where a group of Al-Shabaab militants preached to residents, as well as a police ambush where one officer was killed.
The administrator said as a result of the operation, a number of Al-Shabaab operatives have crossed over into Somalia while others are in hiding. Security agents are also conducting a similar operation in Mandera after militants were reported to have been preaching in villages there.
Mr Saleh said three rifles — an AK47, a G3 and a carbine rifle — as well as several rounds of ammunition were recovered.
"The operation targeting Al-Shabaab operatives has so far been successful and is still ongoing. We have been able to capture three Al-Shabaab members who are now in our custody and who will be investigated with a view to convicting them," Mr Saleh said.
The government, through the regional commissioner, has once again reiterated its assertion that refugee camps are safe havens for members of the terrorist group.
"We are working on a plan with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on this issue because we have hosted the refugees and cannot allow them to create problems in our country," Mr Saleh said.
He added that the government had established a timeframe of three to six months to flush out Al-Shabaab operatives and called on the public to cooperate closely with security officers by providing information.
The regional commissioner was flanked by Senior Assistant Inspector-General Omar Shurie, Garissa County Commissioner James Kianda and County Administration Police Commander Rashid Abdullahi.