Al-Shabaab Militia Nabbed by Police Near Supermarket
Police officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have apprehended a 41-year-old individual believed to be a member of the Al-Shabaab extremist group. This person had managed to evade capture by law enforcement for several months before their arrest.
Working in conjunction with various intelligence organizations, the covert detectives captured the individual close to a grocery store in the Riruta locality of Dagorreti, Nairobi, on the Friday of August 18th.
Right after conducting a swift exploration of his pockets and bag, the investigators discovered five packets of a white illicit material suspected to be cocaine. This prompted the detectives to proceed with additional questioning of the individual.
The individual was required to guide the investigators to his residence situated at the rear of the supermarket. There, they found a Glock handgun with six 9mm bullets, a sum of Ksh31,000 in currency, and 25 kilograms of 4-inch nails that are believed to be intended for the construction of makeshift explosive devices.
Police investigators entered the residence forcefully when the accused individual refused to unlock the door, all the while being aware of the purported evidence that could implicate them.
“Upon further scrutiny of the suspect’s mobile phone, the officers discovered radicalization literature with extremist teachings, linked to the Al-Shabaab terror network,” the statement read in parts.
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DCI stated that an initial inquiry revealed that the individual in question was a committed criminal who had completed a 15-year prison term at Shimo La Tewa Prison in Mombasa.
“The suspect is detained at the DCI-Anti Terror Police Unit headquarters, currently being grilled by anti-terror detectives before being arraigned in court on Monday,” DCI stated.
Over the past few months, there has been a renewed increase in attacks by Al-Shabaab within the nation, leading security personnel to intensify their monitoring efforts.
In July 2023, the organization took credit for a sequence of assaults in the northeastern regions of Garissa and Lamu. These attacks resulted in the deaths of more than 10 security personnel.
Kithure Kindiki, the Interior Cabinet Secretary, has voiced apprehension regarding the recent activities of Al-Shabaab within the nation and assured a resolute approach in addressing the militant group.
Kindiki encouraged well-meaning Kenyans to assist law enforcement officials by providing vital information that could result in the apprehension and legal action against the individuals involved.
Al-Shabaab Militia Nabbed by Police Near Supermarket