Police are in custody of 17 suspected Al-Shabaab recruits arrested in the ongoing anti-terror crackdown. The 17 youths aged between 18-27 years include 2 ladies and 15 men. They were arrested following on an intelligence tip-off at a hideout in Samburu town.
Preliminary reports indicate the youths are suspected Al-Shabaab recruits who were being prepared to be crossed over to Somalia to join the terrorist group.
Authorities further report that the 17 were hiding in the holding centre, a two-room house near Samburu market. Upon interrogations, the youths confessed to having been promised jobs with huge salaries.
Intelligence gathered from informers indicates that two suspects arrived a few days ago while the others have lived in the house for almost a month.
Two of them had completed form four, another two had completed class eight and the rest were drop-outs according to Kinango, Kwale County police boss.
Identification documents show that they come from Tana River, Kilifi, Nakuru, Baringo and Kisii counties.
Detectives from the Anti Terror Police Unit based in Mombasa are continuing with interrogations at a police station in Kwale.
They will be arraigned in court in Kwale on Tuesday 29th January 2019.
