Transnational kidnappings are a new way of operating for the al-Shabab militants, mainly in Somalia.
WhenCuban doctors working in Kenya were kidnapped in the northern town of Kenya, a slightly strange glossary of terms emerged to describe the situation. Some people talk about them as being “kidnapped;” others use the word “disappeared.” Yet others claim that their legal status is “unlocated person.”
Whatever the case, the fact is that they are not there. Landy Rodriguez Hernandez and Dr Assel Herrera Correa were allegedly taken at gunpoint from a road as they were reporting to duty, but nobody has made any demands of any kind, for ransom or anything else. So who took them? And where are they now?
As special forces are drawn from the military carry out air surveillance in a bid to rescue the medics, elders drawn from Somali community of Kenya have reportedly crossed over the border to negotiate for the release of the doctors.
New details emerging from RTN Somalia TV allege that the doctors are held in a dense forest in Somalia.
A multi-agency security team comprising of police and army units is reportedly on high alert as forward observers crossed over to Somalia to give intelligence reports.
Inspector Abdishakur Adan said that few kilometres after the two doctors were picked from their residence, there emerged a Toyota probox which blocked the Hilux where the occupants of the probox opened fire to the vehicle ferrying the Cuban Doctors.
“The attackers who are suspected to be three in number shot and killed one administrative police officer and kidnapped the two Cuban doctors,” said Abdishakur.
He said that the two Cuban doctors were then driven towards Bulla Hawa in Somalia.
“The attackers who are suspected to be three in number shot and killed one administrative police officer and kidnapped the two Cuban doctors,” said Abdishakur.
He said that the two Cuban doctors were then driven towards Bulla Hawa in Somalia.