Al-Shabaab returnees hinder elimination of terrorists
Boni Enclave Campaign Director Joseph Kanyiri speaks to reporters on August 18, 2017. He has urged Al-Shabaab returnees not to rejoin the group. PHOTO | KALUME KAZUNGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- He said the youth failed to notify authorities of their return for amnesty and integration into the society.
- Mr Kanyiri urged families of the Shabaab returnees to surrender their youth to the authorities for rehabilitation.
Al-Shabaab returnees are hindering eradication of the militants from three counties, the government says.
Boni Enclave Campaign Director Joseph Kanyiri said hundreds of youth who had joined the militia in Somalia had returned and were hindering operations to weed out the militants in Lamu, Tana River and Garissa counties.
BONI FOREST
He said the youth failed to notify authorities of their return for amnesty and integration into the society.
Speaking to journalists in Lamu on Monday, Mr Kanyiri said many of the returnees were helping the group carry out attacks in Bodhei, Ijara and other areas bordering Boni Forest.
He said the recent terror attacks in Bodhei and the surrounding areas were “an indication that the perpetrators were under the guidance of local networks”.
AMNESTY
The director suspected that the returnees were secretly re-grouping, recruiting and training other militants.
He said the recruits were then being used to launch attacks in remote parts.
Mr Kanyiri urged families of the Shabaab returnees to surrender their youth to the authorities for rehabilitation and amnesty “so that they can be fully reintegrated into the society”.
Mr Kanyiri asked the returnees to surrender failing which they will be arrested and prosecuted.
