Five Chiefs Abducted In Mandera By Al-Shabaab Released

Five chiefs abducted in early February in Elwak Town, Mandera County, have been released, authorities confirmed on April 07, 2025. However, the chiefs remain in Somalia, where suspected Al-Shabaab militants held them hostage for nearly two months.

The chiefs—Mohamed Adawa, Mohamed Hassan, Abdi Hassan, Mohamed Noor Hache, and Assistant Chief Ibrahim Gabow—were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen while traveling to a meeting with the Elwak Deputy County Commissioner to plan for President William Ruto’s visit to the region. They were intercepted in a Mazda vehicle belonging to Chief Mohamed Noor Hache near Wargadud, just a day before the president’s scheduled tour of northern Kenya.

Speaking after the incident, President Ruto described the abductions as an attempt to disrupt his visit. “These people thought I would not come if they did what they did. I have not only come to Mandera, but I am also going to sleep here. If I want, I can sleep here again because this is part of Kenya. I want to make it clear that every part of Kenya is important, and we are not going to cede an inch of our country to criminals or those who want to unleash mayhem,” Ruto declared during his visit.

The chiefs’ release was reportedly negotiated by local elders who engaged with the captors throughout their detention. It remains unclear whether a ransom was paid, though initial reports suggested the militants had demanded payment for their freedom.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed the release, attributing it to a collaborative effort between the national government, Mandera County government, and local communities. “We have very good news that the five chiefs abducted in Mandera have been released and are now in the hands of Kenyan officials. They will be arriving home soon. This success stems from our decision to work together with the community and county government,” Murkomen said. He added that further updates would follow once the chiefs return to Kenya, noting they are currently with Kenyan officials in Somalia.

The announcement came hours after Mandera County Commissioner Henry Ochako expressed caution about unverified reports of the release. “I cannot confirm or deny the information because we have not yet seen them. Until they are on our side, we cannot say they have been released,” Ochako stated earlier. Some media outlets had reported that the chiefs were handed over to Garreh elders in Jilb, Somalia, with plans underway to bring them back to Elwak, Kenya.

The abduction underscored ongoing security challenges in the region, with the government relying heavily on local leaders to negotiate with the militants. While the chiefs’ release marks a significant breakthrough, questions linger about the terms of their freedom and the broader fight against Al-Shabaab’s influence along Kenya’s border with Somalia.