Residents of Garissa County have raised concerns after reports that security officers took two elders from different locations within the county during separate incidents this week.
The concerns follow statements made by Baraki Member of the County Assembly Hassan Gelley, who said the incidents involved men taken from their homes and public areas in Afweine and Dagahley within the Dadaab area.
According to Hassan, the first incident happened at about 1:00 am on Thursday when security officers entered a home in Afweine village and took Abdi Mohamed Seli, also known as Baqaad, and moved him to a destination not stated, and the second incident happened on Monday when Yussuf Hussein Maalim, a taxi driver known as Indey, was taken from Afweine in the Dagahley.
Hassan said the officers involved used Probox vehicles and that they were linked to multi-agency teams operating in Dadaab and Garissa, including units he named as special forces and anti-terror units.
He added that local police posts in Afweine and Dagahley were not informed about the operations and that senior police leadership in the county also did not have information about the units involved.
Residents in the affected areas have expressed concern over the incidents and the lack of information about the whereabouts of the two men. Community members said the events have created fear among families and other residents who live in Afweine and nearby settlements in Dadaab sub-county.
In his statement, Hassan questioned the operations and called for accountability from security authorities. He said the families of the two men are experiencing distress as they wait for information on their relatives. He also said the situation requires attention from security leadership at the county and regional levels.
Hassan stated that the practice of taking people without clear communication has become a pattern in the area and said it should be addressed by the relevant authorities.
He called on security officials to ensure that procedures under the law are followed during operations involving civilians, and that families should be informed when individuals are taken by security officers.
“Security Officers in Garissa last night at 01:00 am abducted Abdi Mohamed Seli (Baqaad) from his house in Afweine and took him to an unknown destination. The parents of the abducted men, families and the Community are in agony over the abductions," he said.
The incidents have added to ongoing concerns raised by residents and local leaders in parts of Garissa County regarding security operations and communication between different security units and local administration structures.
Community members have called for clarification from security authorities on the status of the two men and the circumstances under which they were taken. They have also called for coordination between national security units and local police posts to ensure that information is shared during operations carried out in residential areas.
Local administration officials in the affected areas have not issued a public statement on the incidents at the time of reporting.
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