MRC ICT guru arrested while sneaking to Tanzania

A 45-year-old man suspected to be an Information Technology specialist for the secessionist group Mombasa Republican Council (MRC), Msambweni branch has been arrested by police in Diani, Kwale County.

Athuman Mohammed Mangale was arrested as he tried to escape to Tanzania following a police operation to flush out members of the outlawed group who were allegedly meeting at a mosque in Masjid Markaz on Saturday.

Msambweni OCPD Joseph Omijah said they received a tip-off from members of the public that MRC members were meeting at a mosque.

The police have also arrested two other members, Bahati Omar Mwakamzango and Nasibu Juma Mwawali.

“Last Saturday, we received information that there was going to be an MRC members’ meeting at Markaz Mosque. We sent our intelligence team to assist in monitoring the situation. As we were moving in to close down on and arrest members who were in the meeting, they received the information and escaped,” said Omijah.

He, however, said that the intelligence team had managed to take photos of the participants attending the meeting.

Omijah says they have embarked on tracking down the members based on the photos in their (police) possession.

Upon arresting Athuman on his way to Tanzania, police recovered a laptop and a phone which had unprinted MRC cards.

The police then proceeded to his house to conduct a search where they recovered items used to advance MRC policies.

Among the recovered items were compact discs, rims of printing papers, printed MRC cards (some laminated), paper cutter, laminating machine, binoculars, and MRC flag.

“These guys use binoculars to monitor the movements of officers and as you can see they are a very equipped gang,” said Omijah.

It was discovered that Athuman possesses a Zanzibar birth certificate and a Kenyan passport which enable him travel to and from either countries with ease.

Omijah wondered how the Imam of Markaz Mosque allows the meetings to take place there if he is not part of the group.

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Kwale County MRC

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