Kenya hunts for four notorious Al-Shabaab militants

Composite image of suspects wanted over Lamu terror attacks [Photo The Star]

NAIROBI, Kenya - Security forces in Kenya have activated search for four notorious Al-Shabaab militants linked to various crimes across the country, authorities have confirmed, noting that the criminals are responsible for renewed attacks by the Al-Qaida linked group along the coastal stretch of Lamu.

In recent week, Lamu, which partly neighbors Somalia from Ras Kamboni area, has been the new epicenter of violent activities mostly engineered by the Al-Shabaab militants. The militants have been targeting security forces and construction workers within the county.

The four suspects include Abdikadir Mohamed Abdikadir alias Ikrima, Mohamud Abdi Aden alias Mohamed Yare, Ramadhan Kioko alias Pinji or Abu Nuseiba and Abdullahi Bulati alias Abdullahi Banati alias Mustafa. The public has been urged to remain vigilant and help nab them.

Resila Onyango, the National Police Service spokesperson, asked members of the public to help security forces trace the four individuals, who are believed to have been training in the neighboring Somalia before returning to the country. Most of the attacks are devised by them, police added.

This year alone, about 10 people have been killed by Al-Shabaab within Lamu County with most incidents said to be planned by the militants. This comes inspire of heavy security presence in the region due to recently deployed special forces in Boni Forest.

In the latest attack, four road engineers died on Wednesday after their vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device on the Bura-Garissa road in northeast Kenya. The Lapsset project has been the major target for the desperate militants, some who are running away from Somalia.

State Department issued reward to anyone who can also volunteer information about the presence of Dusit D2 Hotel main suspect Mohamoud Abdi Aden who is still at large. The US said it is ready to part with $10 million dollars to anyone who can assist Security Forces arrest the culprit.

Dusit D2 Hotel attack in January 2019 is the last major complex attack within the Kenyan soil by the Al-Shabaab although the militants have been waging small scale security attacks for the last couple of months.

Al-Shabaab militants have been on the receiving end in the federal republic of Somalia following a major operation.

GAROWE ONLINE