At least eight suspects are in custody over the abduction of two South Korean missionaries in Moyale, Marsabit County.
The revelations were made as acting Inspector General of National Police Gilbert Masengeli and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin led a team to the area for talks with locals.
The team spent the better part of Thursday talking with the locals and security teams as part of efforts to secure the release of the two missionaries.
They also talked about an attack by gunmen on August 12 that left eight people dead.
The attackers also torched a lorry that the group was using in the same area.
According to police, the abduction incident happened on the night of August 12, 2024 at around 9.00 pm when two armed assailants stormed into Odda Mission Secondary School, where the duo were residing.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects sped off towards Funanyatta along the Marsabit-Moyale Highway using motorbikes while firing.
A multi-agency team began an immediate search and rescue mission, and eight suspects were arrested, among them six Ethiopians, police said.
The suspects were presented before Moyale Principal Magistrate's Court on August 13, 2024, vide Miscellaneous Application and a 10-day custodial order was granted to complete the investigation.
The three cartridges that were recovered from the scene by the security officers have been forwarded to the DCI Forensic Lab for ballistic examination, police said.
Police believe the foreigners are still being held in the same area in Kenya.
No ransom demand has been made so far and the motive is yet to be clear.
The area MP Prof. Jaldesa Guyo Waqo accompanied the police team to the scene of the abduction, alongside Commandant General Service Unit (GSU), Ranson Lolmodooni, Director Anti Terror Police Unit Said Kiprotich, and Border Police Unit Commandant Isaac Alimaa.
Masengeli called for the multi-agency security teams to enhance their collaboration with the members of the public in addressing insecurity gaps in the area and appealed to the public to volunteer any information regarding the abduction to the police.
“Let us share any information that may help get back to the victims,” he appealed.
"The National Police Service is appealing to anyone with information regarding the incident to contact DCI toll-free number 0800 722 203 or the NPS hotline numbers 999/112/911 or the nearest police station."
Amin urged the officers to bring their synergies together in the search operation, to secure the hostages and bring them back home safely.
The victims, David Lee and his mother-in-law, Hiwi Sokk Cheon, were seized by armed assailants.
David Lee and Hiwi Sokk Cheon, who were actively involved in missionary work in the region, were reportedly engaged in community outreach programs when the attack occurred.
The missionaries were known for their contributions to local development and humanitarian efforts.
Residents have expressed concern about the impact of the abduction on the community, noting the important role of the missionaries in providing aid and support.
David Lee is also the son of the late Woncheol Lee, who was buried in Moyale last year.
The shooting incident happened at Elledimtu along Forolle-Turbi Road when an unknown number of assailants attacked a vehicle that was transporting food items from Nairobi to Dukana.
The vehicle was carrying 10 passengers at the time of the attack.
Marsabit Governor Mohamud Mohamed Ali led local leaders in condemning the attack saying eight out of the ten passengers aboard the vehicle were shot dead and their bodies alongside the motor vehicle were burnt.
One passenger was severely injured and another one, a minor escaped unhurt.
Following the attack, the police say that the lorry burst into flames where 80 bags of 100 kg maize, 60 iron sheets, 5 (200 litres) diesel, 3 by 2 timber, and other assorted goods of unknown value were destroyed.
Detectives who visited the scene also recovered 157 spent cartridges of 7.62 mm special.
The governor and his team protested what they termed as unabated and continuous killings, abductions and destructions of properties along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
The governor said on August 9 2024, on the border of Kenya and Ethiopia at Golole, a bulldozer belonging to Ethiopia was burnt down by some unknown militia.
The attackers were dressed in jungle uniforms amid claims from locals they had crossed from Ethiopia side.
The leaders urged the national government through the state Department of Interior, to take up this matter with the seriousness it deserves in order to bring these attacks to a halt so that calm and normalcy are restored once and for all.
Former treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatanni blamed a militia from Ethiopia for the attack.
It was the second such attack in two weeks, which has so far claimed ten lives including that of a policeman.
On August 1, a police officer was killed and three others including a civilian sustained serious injuries when an unknown number of gunmen launched an attack at a checkpoint in the Sessi area of Moyale town.
Officials said the incident happened at the roadblock leading to the main Kenya-Ethiopia border.
A civilian woman believed to be a revenue clerk with the county government, was also critically wounded in the attack, which was carried out by suspects armed with grenades and assault rifles.
The attackers arrived on board a motorcycle and opened fire at the multi-agency team that was manning the roadblock leading to the Ethiopian border.
Police and witnesses said the attackers also lobbed two grenades at the team but they did not detonate.
Police suspect the attackers could be smugglers or terrorists who are trying to find a footing in the area.