Angry Garissa residents storm police station to protest abductions

A section of leaders, residents and human rights activists from Garissa county on Thursday stormed a police station demanding to know the whereabouts of four people who were allegedly abducted by police.

They camped outside Garissa police station for two hours as their leaders engaged area OCPD Edward Imbwaga.

They said four people have been abducted in the last two days.

The abductees, Mohamed Buya Shangalow, Mohamed Hussein Ibrahim, Idle Farah and Osman Yussuf, have been missing for four months. They were abducted on different dates.

The residents gave the government 24 hours to produce the four men failure to which they threatened to hold massive demonstrations.

They were led by their MCA Abdirahman Borr who was accompanied by Hussein Dagane (Garissa Township), Idriss Ismail (Danyere), Ahmed Noor (Dekaharja) and Abdi Weli (Saka). 

Borr wondered how people can be abducted in broad daylight and go through several police barriers and yet the police still claim that they are not aware of their whereabouts.

“This trend where our people are picked from their homes one by one by police officers and taken to an unknown destination then tortured only to be killed later is very saddening. All we want right now are answers and our people produced alive,” he said.

He said it was regrettable that abductions and enforced disappearances continue to happen in the country despite assurance by the government.

“This is a government that campaigned to protect the rights of marginalized people. President Ruto has been at the forefront assuring the country that these things will never happen under his administration. He repeated the same message while in Mombasa,” he said.

Garissa Township MCA Hussein Dagane said every Kenyan has a right to be protected.

He said the incidences had caused a lot of anxiety and stress to the families and residents, noting that such incidences are a setback in the fight against insecurity in the area.

“The police have 24 hours to produce all the missing persons. It is ironic police are telling us that the missing persons are not in their cells while eyewitnesses told us that the car that kidnapped them is right here at the station. It is good that we are told the truth,” he said.

“In the meantime, I  would like my brothers to remain calm during this tragedy since we have not heard any death of our four missing brothers. The government should investigate this matter keenly as it may lead to inter-clan disputes here.

Garissa Town Subcounty police commander Edward Imbwaga urged members of the public and the families of those abducted to record statements with the police for them to commence investigations.

“We are asking for any information regarding the said abductions to start investigations,” Imbwaga said.

“Police follow certain procedures when making arrests. Any police officer from other regions or counties coming to make arrests here must pass through the office of the OCS, OCPD, county commander or the regional commander,” he added.