Post: Alarm raised over increased abductions in Garissa

A section of Members of Garissa County Assembly and residents have raised alarm over increasing cases of abductions and disappearances of wananchi orchestrated by people suspected to be security officers.According to the residents, at least four people have been abducted in the last two days, with three of them still missing while one person was found seriously injured and dumped near Madogo town in Tana River County.Other persons who disappeared mysteriously and were suspected to have been abducted by police in the last four months include Abdikarim Mohamed and Jama Adan (April), Osman Yussuf (February) Jibril Abdullahi and Hareth Adan (March).While addressing the Press at the Garissa police station, Sankuri MCA Abdiraham Borr regretted why despite President William Ruto reiterating that there would be no forced disappearances, abductions and extra-judicial killings during his presidency, police were still abducting and holding citizens incommunicado.'The President has publicly said again and again, even a few days ago in Mombasa County, he repeated that there will be no extra judicial killings or abductions perpetrated by security organs. We want to know what is going on in Garissa because a lot of people are missing and others continue being picked day and night,' Borr said.'We have no problem; we didn't participate in the demonstrations and we do not want conflict with anyone. We want the President to take action and keep his word that there will be no more abductions because we do not want our people to disappear,' he added.Garissa Township ward MCA Hussein Dagane said they have talked with the police and asked them to produce the victims within 24 hours.'I would like my brothers to remain calm during this tragedy since we have not heard of any deaths of our four missing brothers. The government should investigate this matter keenly as it may lead to inter clan disputes here,' he said.Garissa Town Sub County police commander Edward Imbwaga while responding to the issues raised, 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 members of the public to bring any information regarding the said abductions to us so that we may start investigations. We will speak with the one that has been released so that we find out who took him and where he was taken and we want you to be patient as we carry out our 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.Source: Kenya News Agency