Garissa family in agony after son goes missing in Lamu

Yussuf Goni (left) and Adhan Abdi Abdullahi (right) console Mahat Elmi, the father of 17-year-old Abdi Mahat Elmi, who went missing amid the recent security crackdown while he was teaching at an Islamic school in Lamu County. PHOTO | ABDIMALIK HAJIR

What you need to know:

  • Abdi Mahat Elmi went missing while in Lamu County after the start of the recent security operation.
  • He was working as an Islamic school teacher in Lamu
  • The family believes he was arrested by police in a case of mistaken identity.
  • They are now appealing to the authorities to help trace him.

A family in Garissa County is in a state of agony following the mysterious disappearance of their kin.

The family of Abdi Mahat Elmi believes that his was a case of mistaken identity in the ongoing crackdown on criminal gangs following deadly attacks in neighbouring Lamu County.

According to relatives, Abdi, 17, was last seen about two weeks ago in Koreni location, Lamu County, where he was working as an Islamic school teacher popularly known as Duksi.

According to his worried father, Mahat Elmi, his son had been in Lamu County for the last two months and all was well as he even communicated with the family following the operation by security personnel to flash out criminals who have since left more 100 people dead.

FIRSTBORN SON

‘He is my firstborn and has been supporting me in raising up his eight siblings. We are now hopeless and desolate because just three months ago my wife died,” added Mr Elmi as he wiped tears that flowed down to his chin.

Mr Elmi says his family has tried in vain looking for him in police cells in Mkunumbi and Mpeketoni in Lamu County after reports came that he had been arrested by police.

Following the recent spate of killings in Lamu, a massive security operation was mounted in the area by security forces in an effort to restore peace.

But since the start of the operation several people have been reported missing with claims that they had been arrested for interrogation by police.

Abdi's father is now appealing to President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and help bring back the sole provider of his family.

The father, who earns his living through pushing a cart, said Abdi dropped out of school due to financial difficulties in the family.

“He dropped out of school at class seven because of the financial problems we were going through.

"Since he understood the holy Koran very well, he went to Lamu, where he got a job as a Koran teacher,” he said.