How brave and kind man saved Garissa students from terrorists

A 54 year old man who lives next to Garissa University College that was raided by terrorists on April 2 recalled how he assisted bewildered, terrified and confused students fleeing from the institution in which their colleagues were killed. 

Mr Ibrahim Aden, a Garissa based child-rights activist, recounted how he lay on his belly moments after the deafening shooting started at the institution which is less than 50 metres away from his home. 

He told the Sunday Nation that he had woken up to take part in his morning prayer at the nearby mosque when all hell broke loose.

“I prayed hastily outside my house as the gunshots became intense and rushed back to the house and lay flat on the floor because we thought we were under attack. But as time went on it became clear that the attack was on the university,” he said. 

He told of how he thought hard on whether to go out and help the students or stay in the house for his own safety. 

And in a daring move, Mr Aden came out of the house and ran towards the university fence, where he was met with terrified students fleeing from the attack but unable to jump over the razor fence. 

He told Sunday Nation that he first told them to lie low to avoid being seen by the terrorists who would kill 148 people before he made a small hole under the fence through which those who couldn’t jump over the fence, especially ladies, would crawl out. 

“I then called for assistance from my neighbours and together we helped them to safety,” he said, and pointed at the spot where they rescued the students at. 

Mr Aden said many of the students were confused since they had been woken up by deafening sounds of gunshots and came out in night wear and without shoes.

He said one of the victims was so shocked that some moments after he was assisted to jump over the fence he ran fast past his rescuers and was not seen until later in the day when he joined his colleagues at the military camp in the town. 

“After the rescue, I then led them to my house and told the crowd that had already gathered to go away lest they scare the students even more. I kept male students in one room while the ladies occupied a different one. I then called the local chief to inform him that the students, were there” he explained. 

Mr Aden said since he lived near the university he knew many of the students he rescued by name and some of those who perished. 

“We gave them clothing because most of them had night dresses on and served them tea. After that the chief came and took them to the police officers.”

He added: “I feel bad about  those who were killed in the attack. They were here to pursue their studies and hopefully to have professional careers afterwards but their lives ended abruptly.” 

Mr Aden called on the government to ensure the border with Somalia is completely sealed to restrict the movement of the militants who have killed and maimed hundreds of Kenyans.  

The 54-year-old man said weeks after the attack, some of the students he rescued called to thank him for what he did.

But he told Sunday Nation that he did it out of humanity, noting that beside our “small differences” we are all human who are required to live with dignity.

The attack was the worst on Kenyan soil since the 1998 US embassy bombing.