NAIROBI, Kenya – Police at the Kenya-Somalia border intercepted a Tanzanian national who was allegedly headed to join the terror group al Shabaab.
The 22-year-old was nabbed at the Liboi border as he walked towards Somalia direction on January 13.
He said he was headed for Dhobley in Somalia, which is under the control command of the terror group.
Preliminary interrogation indicated he entered Kenya through the Lungalunga border crossing point on January 10, 2024.
He said he was going to Somalia for the first time.
He provided conflicting reasons for heading to Somalia and the passport had an endorsement of a Kenyan visa of six months, which prompted police to detain him.
A search was conducted of his two small bags and recovered religious literature both Islamic and Christian, five Tanzanian sim cards, one phone with Safaricom sim cards, and a Tanzanite debit card.
He was handed over to anti-terror police for grilling.
This is the latest arrest to be made in the area involving a foreigner.
Police say collaboration between security agencies and the local population in the North has gained traction and the locals are now more open and free to share information with the local authorities.
The public has also been urged to be vigilant at all times and report to the police any suspicious persons, activities and unattended luggage.
Police said there is a trend that they have noted with recruits travelling to join either al Shabaab or Daesh, that they are provided with travel arrangements avoiding communications while on the way or asking people about the route to avoid raising suspicion.
The security agencies further cautioned Public Service Vehicle operators to be alert and share any information on the movement of suspicious foreigners.
“The ongoing war against terrorism by the security agencies continues to frustrate the recruitment and facilitation of recruits destined to Somalia to join al-Shabaab,” a police report said.
Source: The Star
