ATPU officers grilling two Tanzanian nationals over links to Al Shabaab
Officers attached to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) are currently grilling two Tanzanian nationals who were found in the country as they headed to Somalia to join the Al Shabaab militia group.
The duo, Mr Abdirahman Shaffi Mkwatili, 25, and Mr Sadam Jafari Kitia, 30, were nabbed after they got lost as they headed to the war-tone Somalia. They were arrested on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.
The Kenyan team that is investigating the duo is also liaising with Tanzania to see the appropriate action that will be taken against them.
“They were arrested by police officers following a tip-off from members of the public before the ATPU picked up the matter,” a sleuth privy to the matter told Nairobi News.
Also read: Details of Al Shabaab attack at Iresuki Safaricom mast and three other targets
After they had been arrested, they were found in possession of a notebook that had directions on how they would reach the Kenya-Somalia border, where they were to be received by Al Shabaab fighters.
Our police source said they were destined for Jilib, a hiding point for the Al Shabaab fighters.
They have confessed that they had been facilitated by a group of Al Shabaab recruiters in Tanzania seeking more people interested in joining the militia group.
Three weeks ago, three other Tanzanian nationals, identified as Abdul Salif Salimu, Zuberi Ngare Mtondoo, and Seif Abdalla Juma, were also arrested in the same area.
The arrest of the trio was made able by members of the public who informed the police of their suspicious look and behavior.
It is worth noting that the Somali Government recently launched a counter-insurgency operation in Somalia to flush out Al Shabaab fighters.
For this reason, Uganda and Kenya have witnessed increased terror-related attacks.
Kenya has been the most hit with terrorist activities, especially in the North Eastern Region.
Also read: Wanted: US offers Sh695m reward for capture of Al Shabaab bomb expert