10 suspected Shabaab recruits arrested in Garissa County

Security agents in Garissa County on Monday evening arrested eight Tanzanians believed to have been on their way to Somalia to join Al Shabaab.

Mohamed Ali Saleh when he was appointed as the new North Eastern region coordinator who was appointed by Cabinet Secretary for Interior and coordination of National Government Joseph Nkaiserry on 29/04/2015 in Nairobi. (PHOTO: WILLIS AWANDU/STANDARD)

The men aged between 20 and 40 were intercepted in Dadaab town while planning to enter Somalia and are currently being interrogated by police, said North Eastern Regional Commissioner Mohamud Saleh (pictured).

Mr Saleh said two women, a Kenyan and Tanzanian, were also arrested early this week heading to Somalia to become "Shabaab brides".

The commissioner said six Al Shabaab militants have also been arrested and seven pistols and an equivalent number grenades recovered in the last three days in Garissa town.

"We have arrested six Al Shabaab militia men with two pistols, seven grenades, 20 rounds of ammunition and 15 magazines in Garissa Ndogo Trading Centre and we are looking for more accomplices who are on the run," he said.

He added: "The suspects are now being interrogated at Garissa Police Station by anti-terrorism police. Security officers are following crucial leads that will see the apprehension of more Al Shabaab suspects hiding within the town in the next two days."

The suspects, Saleh said, were planning to carry out deadly attacks targeting some vital institutions, which he didn't name, in the next few days.

He said the security officers received a tip-off about the presence of the criminals who were at advanced stage of their plan.

"We are happy that the local communities are co-operating very well with the security agencies in providing intelligence. We are now receiving intelligence even from remote areas because we have gained the confidence of people," he revealed.

Further, he said that security officers had recovered three automatic assault rifles and eight rounds of ammunition from notorious bandits responsible for highway robbery along Mandera-Arabia road.