Man abducted by gunmen in Garissa

Multi agency teams are searching for a man who was abducted by gunmen in an attack in Modika area, Garissa County.

A man who was in a car that was also hijacked and driven towards Somalia border said they were headed for Ifo area when the vehicle was blocked.

Two men who were armed with pistols jumped out of the blocking car and bundled the occupants out in the March 19 incident.

They assaulted them and later took control of their salon car and drove off.

They later abandoned one of them at the Lapset Road area and disappeared with the driver.

The victim reported the matter prompting a search. This came days after another gang believed to be al Shabaab militants abducted three men from Elwak area, Mandera County.

The three are yet to be found, police said.

Police said a rider, Derow Adan and his pillion passenger Isak Abdulahi, were riding from Elwak to Iresuki when the motorcycle developed a mechanical problem.

According to police, they then called the mechanic identified as Amare Ibrahim to go assist them repair the motorcycle.

However, the motorcycle was found abandoned along the Elwak-Mandera road at Bomba Doga, about 15 kilometers from Elwak town in the March 17 incident.

It is suspected that the three were abducted by al Shabaab militants since the area remains a terror prone zone.

A search for the three has been launched, police said adding they had not gotten any clue on the whereabouts of the three.

The area is the same one where five chiefs were last month abducted by the same gang.

This comes as Kenya is still negotiating with the gunmen who kidnapped the five chiefs in Elwak, Mandera.

The group is being held in Jilib, Somalia amid efforts for their release.

The abductors have demanded ransom for the release of the victims.

The area is near the Kenya-Somalia border, which is porous.

The terrorists have been attacking the area, affecting development at large. Somalia has not had a stable government for decades.

Security agents have mounted operations in the area in efforts to contain the terror-related attacks.

Officials say this has led to the reduction of such incidents in general.

The Monday incident happened even as the US

The embassy issued a new travel advisory warning to its citizens residing in Kenya.

Americans have also been warned against traveling at the Kenya-Somalia border counties, which include Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Tana River and coastal areas north of Malindi.

Kenyan authorities are yet to respond to the advisory.

The embassy cautioned Americans from traveling to a number of areas citing security risks such as crime, civil unrest, terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

In Nairobi, the embassy in its advisory dated March 18 urged its citizens to stay alert especially in hotspots of Eastleigh and Kibera due to crime and kidnapping.

Violent crimes, such as armed carjacking, mugging, home invasion, and kidnapping, can occur at any time, the advisory claimed.

The embassy added that the local police do not respond effectively to serious crimes and terrorist attacks.

“Emergency medical and fire services are limited. Avoid traveling after dark in Kenya due to crime and poor traffic safety,” the advisory reads.

According to the statement, motorcycle crimes are common, where thieves grab items from victims and quickly flee the scene.

“Crimes typically occur in crowded areas or when people are distracted. Police have limited ability to respond to these crimes. Handbags, mobile phones, and other easy-to-reach valuables are the most stolen items,” it says.