Agony over missing Garissa cleric 'abducted by police'

Garissa, Kenya: A family in Garissa is in agony after their father, an Islamic teacher, was allegedly abducted by security officers on Monday.

The family of Sheikh Abdullahi Khalif said their kin was “arrested” by three people who identified themselves as security officers.

The sheikh was picked from Umul-Qura, an Islamic religious institution (Dugsi) in Garissa town.

Mr Khalif, who has four wives and 19 children, was allegedly accosted by the officers in plain clothes while he was teaching at the institution at around 10am before he was forcibly put into a Land Cruiser car and driven away. He has not be seen or heard from since.

“They first demanded for his national identity card before grabbing his mobile phone. He was arrested by force in the full glare of his students,” said the cleric’s son Abdi Khalif Abdullahi at their home in Bula Salaam.

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“While they were struggling to put him into the car, his youngest daughter who was among the learners, together with other students tried to shield him but the officers brandished pistols and threatened to shoot them,”Abdi said.

Abdi, who finished high school at Bura Secondary in Fafi constituency last year, said their father was the only breadwinner for the extended family and was taking care of his ailing 80-year-old mother Tamima Haji.

He said the phone number of the cleric was ringing for about 30 minutes on Monday and Tuesday but was not answered. It later went off.

During the emotional interview, the family occasionally broke into uncontrollable sobs

Tawane Haji Abdi, 76, the uncle to the missing cleric, said it was difficult and painful for the family to live without an idea on the whereabouts of its head.

Human rights activist Khalif Abdi claimed more than 30 people are missing after they were allegedly kidnapped by security officers in Garissa town.

Contacted, Garissa County Commander Shadrack Maithya said he would get back with information but never did.

The family recorded a statement at Garissa police station on Monday