Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have arrested a 41-year-old suspected Al-Shabaab militia who had previously eluded police dragnet for several months.
In coordination with other intelligence agencies, the undercover sleuths apprehended the suspect near a supermarket in the Riruta area of Dagorreti, Nairobi, on Friday, August 18.
The suspect was compelled to lead the detectives to his house located behind the supermarket, where they recovered a Glock pistol loaded with six rounds of 9mm caliber, Ksh31,000 in cash, and 25Kgs of 4-inch nails suspected to be used in the assembly of improvised explosives devices.
Detectives forced their way into the house after the suspect declined to open it, conscious of the alleged incriminating evidence.
DCI submits that “Upon further scrutiny of the suspect’s mobile phone, the officers discovered radicalization literature with extremist teachings, linked to the Al-Shabaab terror network,”
DCI further said that a preliminary investigation indicated that the suspect was a hardcore convict who had served a 15-year jail sentence at Shimo La Tewa Prison in Mombasa.
“The suspect is detained at the DCI-Anti Terror Police Unit headquarters, currently being grilled by anti-terror detectives before being arraigned in court on Monday,”
