Security personnel display firearms that were recovered in an operation in Yumbis, Garissa County, on June 6, 2015. PHOTO | ABDIMALIK HAJIR | NATION MEDIA GROUP
By ABDIMALIK HAJIR
Security officers conducting an operation in Yumbis, Garissa
County have arrested three terrorism suspects and recovered firearms.
Speaking
to journalists on Saturday, Regional Commissioner Ambassador Mohamud
Saleh also said the government is determined to drive out Al-Shabaab
operatives from the country.
He called the operation a
success following the arrests. The suspects are believed to have taken
part in the invasion of a village where a group of Al-Shabaab militants
preached to residents, as well as a police ambush where one officer was
killed.
The administrator said as a result of the
operation, a number of Al-Shabaab operatives have crossed over into
Somalia while others are in hiding. Security agents are also conducting a
similar operation in Mandera after militants were reported to have been
preaching in villages there.
Mr Saleh said three rifles — an AK47, a G3 and a carbine rifle — as well as several rounds of ammunition were recovered.
"The
operation targeting Al-Shabaab operatives has so far been successful
and is still ongoing. We have been able to capture three Al-Shabaab
members who are now in our custody and who will be investigated with a
view to convicting them," Mr Saleh said.
The
government, through the regional commissioner, has once again
reiterated its assertion that refugee camps are safe havens for members
of the terrorist group.
"We are working on
a plan with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on this
issue because we have hosted the refugees and cannot allow them to
create problems in our country," Mr Saleh said.
He
added that the government had established a timeframe of three to six
months to flush out Al-Shabaab operatives and called on the public to
cooperate closely with security officers by providing information.
The
regional commissioner was flanked by Senior Assistant Inspector-General
Omar Shurie, Garissa County Commissioner James Kianda and County
Administration Police Commander Rashid Abdullahi.