Bring my son home- Father of KDF officer held captive by Al-Shabab appeals to President Ruto
Issa Ibrahim said that the recent viral footage showing his son decrying neglect and appealing for government intervention reopened old wounds. He said the family was once again undergoing another period of immense pain and hardship.
The father of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer Abdullahi Issa Ibrahim, who has been held hostage by Al-Shabab in Somalia, made an emotional appeal on Sunday to President William Ruto to intervene for his potential release.
Speaking in Wajir town, where family members, relatives, and residents had gathered in solidarity to call for his release, 90-year-old Issa Ibrahim shared his harrowing experience.
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He described how the disappearance of his son, the sole breadwinner of the family, during the El Adde attack was the most traumatic moment of his life, ultimately leading to his sudden loss of vision.
"Unlike the parents and families who received the bodies of their loved ones after the attack, our case was different. My son was presumed dead. It was an incredibly difficult moment. Due to the stress of the situation, I suddenly lost my eyesight," he said.
The daughter Raha Abdullahi overwhelmed by emotions as she called for the release of her father. (Screengrab)
Issa Ibrahim said that the recent viral footage showing his son decrying neglect and appealing for government intervention reopened old wounds. He said the family was once again undergoing another period of immense pain and hardship.
The father appealed to President William Ruto to expedite efforts to secure the release of his son and other KDF officers held by Al-Shabab.
Raha Abdullahi, the daughter of the officer, expressed the pain she endured after her father was presumed dead.
"It was a difficult moment. I loved my dad; he was so caring. I developed high blood pressure after we only received a death certificate without his body for burial. The recent emotional footage has brought back the past trauma," she said, struggling to contain her emotions.
She also urged the president to intervene and ensure her father's safe return home.
Wajir leaders appeal for state intervention to release KDF officer held by Al-Shabaab
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) January 19, 2025
Leaders from Wajir have called on the Kenyan government to secure the release of Abdullahi Issa Ibrahim, a military officer who was captured during the 2015 El-Ade attack in Somalia and is… pic.twitter.com/orv0L58exE
Noor Abdi, a community elder and Wajir resident, said it was the right time for action following the release of the footage in which Abdullahi Issa Ibrahim called on the government for help.
"We cannot blame the government for negligence since his whereabouts were unknown. We are not questioning the accountability and verification of missing soldiers presumed dead. However, now that he has spoken and is appealing for help, the government must take responsibility and negotiate for the safe return of the officer, whose family is enduring immense pain and trauma," he said.
The officer hails from Tarbaj Sub-County in Wajir, and residents joined family members and relatives in urging the president to intervene urgently.
Flanked by other community leaders, the elder also called on leaders from the North Eastern region, led by Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, to remain committed to efforts to secure the officer's release.
Two days ago, family members of the KDF officer in Eldoret also spoke out about the emotional turmoil they have been enduring and appealed for government intervention.
His daughter Kadra, speaking on behalf of the family, said Al-Shabab militants, who are holding her father captive, wished to communicate directly with the Kenyan government regarding his release.
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