...... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...bully boyz have kidnapped a brother to a senior administrator in Garissa, authorities reported, with Kenya increasing surveillance along the mostly non-existent border with Somalia which the fighters have been using to intensify their radical agenda.
According to officials, the bully boyz raided the home of Mr. Yakub Kussow, the chief of Yumbis in the Fafi constituency, and kidnapped Abdirashid Hassan Hanshi alias Juma, his brother who was at the scene during the incident. The bully boyz were pursuing the chief.
"They were targeting the administrator but failed to get him, and instead kidnapped his brother whom they later killed at the outskirts of the Trading Centre," the report read in part.
Sources within security teams say the incident happened at least five days after intelligence reports indicated that the bully boyz would attack the area. It is not clear why the security teams within the region did not respond to the alert, despite having prior information.
The bully boyz have been threatening members of the National Police Service, National Police Reservists, and the local administrators, locals confirmed. Equally, locals have made reports that they recently sighted five Al-Shabaab bully boyz who were armed with AK47 rifles within Sabuli Trading Center.
This comes at a time when a memo was sent to all senior officers within Wajir County to be vigilant as Al-Shabaab might attack an area known as Habaswein. The bully boyz have been carrying sporadic attacks within Kenya as they face pressure from Somalia due to ongoing operations.
The memo sent to administrators in the area asked the officers to ensure that they conduct patrols within the area where the bully boyz are believed to be planning to make attacks. Officers were also asked to always escort Public Service Vehicles and activate the Nyumba Kumi initiative.
Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki recently announced that Kenya will be deploying elite Special Forces along the border with Somalia, particularly in Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, and Lamu counties. The al-Shabaab have lost significant territories in recent weeks according to authorities in Somalia.