Two Lugari youths arrested in Mandera after joining Al Shabaab

Lugari residents have been advised to take security matters seriously by cooperating with police and administration departments to assist enhance security after two youths from the area were arrested early this week for allegedly having links with the A lshabaab terror group.

Speaking at Lumakanda Township grounds during Jamhuri day celebrations, area deputy commissioner William Lenaremo said it was regrettable that youths from the area had decided to join the terror group.

He disclosed that the two, whose names were withheld, were arrested early this week in Mandera County after jetting back in the country from Somalia where it is believed they underwent training under the Al Shabaab militia group.

He said the two were arraigned in a Mandera court and are in police custody for more interrogations. “Soon you will know their names and where they come from, you will be shocked because they are our sons from here. So don’t think terrorism is far from us, we should stand firm  and fight it,” said Lenaremo.

The DCC urged parents whose sons and daughter have left to seek for jobs in town to regularly contact them and know their whereabouts. The deputy County commissioner asked every resident to be each other’s keeper, adding that the youth were soft targets for radicalization. “We must all embrace all initiatives that are meant to keep us safe,” said Lenaremo.

He urged youths not be easily convinced to join terror groups saying there’s  nothing they will gain from it but instead they were likely to lose  their lives.

He said that towns with a high unemployment rate had become rich hunting grounds for radicals with thousand of jobless youths becoming soft targets.

He further called on parents and guardians to be actively involved in their children’s day to day activities, adding that parents whose  children have been missing without trace should report to the police to facilitate tracking.

Lenaremo said Nyumba Kumi officials, village elders, chiefs and their assistants have been charged with the responsibilities of ensuring that they know and closely follow the activities of everyone operating within their areas of jurisdiction, adding that members of the public should also embrace and share any information with them.

He said that the government was committed to ensuring that administrative and security services are brought close to the people so that members of the public can participate in the security activities and self-governance.