Family members of Siyad Abdi Omar, a herder from the Hulugho border area, have called for his immediate release, claiming he was forcibly taken away by government security forces. According to the family, Siyad was abducted on October 27 after security forces laid siege to his home for over three hours. The family alleges that the security forces fired shots in the air, scaring people in the area, and that Siyad was blindfolded and taken away when he returned home around 1 pm.
The family spokesperson, Zakariya Yussuf, expressed concern that President William Ruto had claimed that abductions of citizens have stopped, yet their kin was abducted in broad daylight. Yussuf stated that Siyad is a herder with a family depending on him and that some livestock went missing following the intense gunfire by the security forces during the siege. He also revealed that Siyad's children and three wives are traumatized by the events and demanded that if Siyad is suspected of any criminal activities, he should be taken to court.
Mohamud Abass Burale, a resident of Hulugho and a family member of the victim, stated that abductions in the border town have become rampant and normalized, with people no longer asking questions. He claimed that Siyad was a simple man who only took care of his livestock and family, and wondered why the government was targeting him. Burale also revealed that over ten people have either been killed by extrajudicial forces or have gone missing in the area.
Muktar Dahir Osman, chairman of the Garissa Human Rights Network, claimed that government security agencies are involved in the recent spate of abductions and called for accountability. He stated that the family wants to know if Siyad has committed any offense and why he was taken away. Osman also revealed that relatives of the victim were denied the opportunity to record their statement at Hulugho police station, leaving them helpless.
Osman accompanied the family to record their statement at Garissa police station, but they were equally turned down. He alleged that the police's denial to record their statement means they know something about the alleged abductions. Osman also expressed concern that people living in Hulugho are not safe from Kenyan security agencies and demanded the release of Siyad Abdi Omar to his family.
The family also revealed that Siyad's cousin, Mohamed Ahmed Noor, was taken away in May last year and is yet to be released. They appealed to the security agencies to ensure the safety of their kin and called for his release. The family is seeking answers on why the government is targeting them and why Siyad was abducted.
The abduction of Siyad Abdi Omar has raised concerns about the security situation in the Hulugho border area and the involvement of government security agencies in alleged human rights abuses. The family and human rights activists are calling for accountability and an end to the alleged abductions and extrajudicial killings in the area.
Key points
- The family of Siyad Abdi Omar alleges that he was abducted by government security forces from the Hulugho border area.
- The family and human rights activists are calling for accountability and an end to the alleged abductions and extrajudicial killings in the area.
- The abduction has raised concerns about the security situation in the Hulugho border area and the involvement of government security agencies in alleged human rights abuses.
