Three people who were kidnapped by suspected Al-Shabaab militants on Tuesday evening have been rescued.
The three are among four people who were abducted after Al-Shabaab hijacked an ambulance they were traveling in along Lafey-Elwak road in Mandera County and commandeered towards Somalia.
According to local leaders, the three; Moulid Abdi (a patient), his relative Aden Dai and Lafey hospital paramedic Abdirashid Billow Hussein, were released at El-Adde, Somalia, and escorted to the border by Somalia’s security officers.
The fourth hostage, who is the ambulance’s driver, is still missing.
The driver is reported to have been ordered to drive the militants to their suspected hideout in the interior of the country.
Confirming the incident, Mandera County Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha said that, “arrangements have been made to bring back the three Kenyans from Somalia. They will most likely return home today or tomorrow.”
Mohamed Abdiker, a Lafey Member of Parliament, lauded the Kenyan police and Somali security forces for their efforts.
“I would thank our gallant officers who have worked with their counterparts in Somalia and returned three of the abducted persons to their homes safely”, said Abdiker.
Mandera County Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha has also stated that he is working with his counterpart in Somalia’s Gedo region to ensure the driver and ambulance’s safe return.
“I pray that the driver will also be found safe,” said Kyatha on phone.
Fatima Noor, the head of Ambulance Services in Mandera County, revealed that the vehicle was ambushed near Elwak on the Lafey road in Kurkura village.
