Al-Shabaab militants surrender to KDF in Gedo

[Deeq A.]

Two Al-Shabaab militants on Wednesday surrendered to Kenya Defense Forces at the notorious Gedo region in Somalia, few miles from Kenyan border, it has emerged.

Interestingly, the incident takes place four days after intelligence reports from NIS indicated that over 40 militants had crossed to Kenya from Somalia and are planning a retaliation on Kenyan soil.

According to the reports, the militants had given an ultimatum to have their weapons returned after being confiscated by Kenya security forces at Dawaduba last week.

Intelligence report shared on Thursday showed that the Al-Shabaab militants had crossed into Mandera County’s Lafey area.

“Unconfirmed reports indicate that the militant group has given an ultimatum that they want weapons recovered from them in Dawaduba returned within the next 24hrs or they will vent their anger on the local community within Lafey sub- county,” reads the report.

The two could be resourceful since they have connections to Al-Shabaab detention camps and intelligence. It’s in Gedo region near El-Adde that two Cuban doctors who were abducted in Mandera are being held.

Last month, elders from Mandera said the militants had asked for Sh150 million ransom but the Kenya government maintained that it does not negotiate with Al-Shabaab.

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