The family of a 57-year-old herder from Garissa is demanding his immediate release after he was abducted from his home in Hulugho. Siyad Abdi Omar was taken away by security officers on September 27, and his relatives have been searching for him since. The family, who spoke to the media in Garissa town, said they were desperately seeking information about their kin's whereabouts. Siyad is married to three wives and has nine children.
According to family spokesman Zakaria Yussuf, Siyad was abducted at around midday by security officers who arrived at his homestead in six vehicles. The officers asked for him, and when he returned from herding his goats, they blindfolded him and whisked him away. Yussuf said the family had made inquiries in different places but had received conflicting information about Siyad's whereabouts. Some people claim he remained within Hulugho, while others say he was transferred to another location.
The family identified the officers who took Siyad as security personnel because of their uniforms and the vehicles they used. However, they have raised concerns about difficulties in reporting the disappearance to the police. Yussuf said elders went to Hulugho Police Post to report the matter but were allegedly turned away without being issued with an Occurrence Book number. A similar problem was encountered when seeking to report the matter at the Garissa Police Station.
The family has appealed to national and local leaders to intervene in Siyad's case. Yussuf said the uncertainty had caused the family immense distress, particularly because they did not know whether Siyad was alive, injured, or being held in detention. The family is demanding the release and safe return of their family member, citing their legal right to do so. Yussuf also mentioned that another relative, Ahmed Noor, had been missing for almost two years after being allegedly picked up in Garissa town at night.
Human rights activists have called on the government and security agencies to account for Siyad's disappearance. Garissa Human Rights Network's Muktar Dahir Osman said the circumstances surrounding the disappearance were concerning, especially since Siyad was abducted in broad daylight. Osman urged the security agency with information about Siyad to disclose his whereabouts and ensure that he is accorded his constitutional rights.
Noor Bashir, a member of the Garissa Human Rights Defenders Network, said the incident had renewed concerns over alleged abductions and disappearances reported in border areas. Bashir emphasized that security agencies had a duty to protect citizens but should also follow the law when arresting people suspected of wrongdoing. He urged the authorities to establish Siyad's whereabouts and ensure that his case, if there is one, is handled through established legal procedures.
The incident comes against the backdrop of a long-running history of complaints about disappearances and alleged abuses by security agencies in parts of northern and northeastern Kenya. President William Ruto has previously addressed the controversy surrounding alleged abductions and disappearances, acknowledging concerns over people disappearing during protests and urging Kenyans with information on cases involving suspected police officers to report them to the relevant authorities.
Key points
- The family of Siyad Abdi Omar demands his immediate release after he was abducted by security officers from his Hulugho home on September 27.
- Human rights activists have called on the government and security agencies to account for Siyad's disappearance and ensure that he is accorded his constitutional rights.
- The incident has renewed concerns over alleged abductions and disappearances reported in border areas, with activists urging the authorities to establish Siyad's whereabouts and handle his case through established legal procedures.
