President William Ruto has ordered an intensified search for the missing five Mandera chiefs who were reportedly abducted by suspected al-Shabaab militants.
The five, Mohamed Noor Hache, Mohamed AdawaAbdi Hassan, Mohamed Hassan and Ibrahim Gabow were abducted on Monday, February 3, hours before President Ruto’s development tour of the region.
Speaking in Mandera, the head of state assured the area residents that the abducted chiefs would return home safely.
President Ruto, in turn, ordered the Deputy Inspector of Police, Gilbert Masengeli, who accompanied him to the visit, to ensure that the five administrators return home soon and safely.
"These terrorists wanted to create fear in this area. These chiefs must return home, and we will fight them. These fools thought that by doing this, I would not come to Mandera. I have come to Mandera, I will sleep in Mandera," said Ruto.It is reported that the militants intercepted a government vehicle in Iresuki while it was transporting the chiefs to Elwak Town for a meeting at the Mandera South sub-county offices with Deputy County Commissioner Tobias Otunga.
