Police holding a man suspected to be an Al Shaabab operative

A 27-year-old man alleged to be part of the Al Shabaab militia group is being held by police in Isiolo.

According to David Cheruiyot, the Isiolo County Criminal Investigations officer, the suspect identified as Ahmed Yarrow, was arrested late last month at Bullapesa village in Isiolo town.

Cheruiyot says that police have suspected Yarrow to have participated in the Mandera bus attack late last year.

However, the police had earlier requested the Isiolo Court to give them ten days to complete investigations on his possible links with the terror group.

The ten days, however, lapsed Friday but the police asked for more time to liaise with their Mandera counterparts in the investigations.

Mandera is among the most affected areas by terror attacks by the Al Shabaab militants.

In 2015 alone, Mandera recoded several attacks including one where two police officers were killed after their vehicle was attacked by the militants.

Mandera County Commissioner Fredrick Shisia said the militants attacked the police vehicle while escorting the Fino Police Station OCS to Takaba through El Wak town.

The attack happened near the area where a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer was killed and two others injured after they were ambushed by militants as they drove towards Mandera just two weeks before.

In December last year, two people were killed and three others were injured when suspected Al Shabaab militants attacked a bus and a lorry in Mandera between Dabacity Town and Borehole II. This is according to Deputy County Commissioner Julius Otieno.

“Initial reports indicate two people have died and three injured. Those injured are the driver of the bus and two passengers. The militants fled after the attack,” Mr. Otieno said.