Ethiopian defense force says it captures ISIS members

General Berhanu Jula, Deputy Chief of Staff and military operations head of the Ethiopian Armed Forces told Ethiopian Press Agency that the national defense force has recently captured “some members” of ISIS in Ethiopia.

According to the General, although repeated attempts by ISIS to mobilize itself around various places in Ethiopia have largely been foiled, the government has enough intelligence about the presence of individuals hailing from various places in Ethiopia and who are trained and indoctrinated by ISIS militants.

“At the moment members of ISIS, what they are doing, where they are moving around, who they have established contacts with, the identities of their members in cities and what they are doing, as well as what their plans are and other details that cannot be mentioned here are under our strict surveillance,” EPA quoted General Berhanu.

The General emphasized that the national defense forces were working day and night to protect the people of Ethiopia from any kind of danger. “Members of the national defense force know no break. There is no time we are resting.”

According to him, at times it is unnecessary to apprehend an individual because greater care should be exerted not to lose sight of the bigger picture and considering the ease to follow the rule of law to apprehend suspects.

He however dismissed information by ISIS that it has a presence in Ethiopia as “psychological warfare. “The people of Ethiopia will not be intimidated and scared by this,” he said and added ISIS has no capacity to enter and operate in Ethiopia.

The ISIS-linked faction has bases in Somalia's northeastern Puntland State and becomes growing threat to the security of the region which is fighting against Al-Shabab militant group.