After Al-Shabaab abduction, Mandera chiefs re-unite with families

MANDERA, Kenya - The five chiefs from Mandera who were abducted earlier this year before a presidential visit, have since reunited with their families following 60 days of their absence and deep negotiations between elders from Kenya and Somalia.

For a few moments, their families were treated with a moment of joy as each of them shared their experience at the hands of their captors who had asked for ransom in the middle of intense negotiations between the families and the fighters.

Wargadud Chief Adaw Abdi Mohamed stated: “Na tunarudishia pia shukrani kwa serikali yetu kwa support yake kwa hiyo wazee. ile serikali ya nchi jirani ya Somalia na hii yetu wote tunawarudishia shukrani hasaa jamii yetu ile wametushughulikia sana.”

(We also thank our government for supporting the elders. We also thank the government of Somalia for showing support to us).

Mandera Central Deputy County Commissioner Tobia Otungu said: “Today we want to share the joy with all of them and say that we are very grateful to God for this miracle and we are going to start a new journey with them of healing from the traumas that they have gone through.”

The five, Mohamed Adawa, Mohamed Hassan, Abdi Hassan, Mohamed Noor Hache, and Assistant Chief Ibrahim Gabow, were ambushed on February 3, 2025, by Al-Shabaab in Wargadud as they were heading to Elwak Town for official duty.

President William Ruto was set to visit the northeastern region before the chiefs were abducted by the militants. In Mandera, Ruto vowed to ensure the chiefs were reunited with their families while warning terrorists.

“We were very worried about our chiefs and there are chiefs who have lost their lives in public service…those chiefs we will make sure that we take care of their families…those who have been attacked, because of dealing with insecurity issues,” said Kipchumba Murkomen, the interior minister.

Mandera South MP Abdulla Haro stated: “I thank even the elders in Somalia, whatever communities and clans which assisted in the negotiations, whoever supported through prayer, word of mouth or walking with our elders to the negotiations, we thank all of you.”

The government of Kenya has heightened security along the common border with Somalia, with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) coming with at least 14 Forward Operating Bases within the border. There are also several multi-agency security teams within the area.

GAROWE ONLINE