Students missing in Isiolo could have joined Al-Shabaab

Isiolo County Commissioner George Natembeya. He said on August 22, 2016 that three young men who left Isiolo County on their way to Somalia have been intercepted. FILE PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • He said the two were being closely monitored by the county security team and usually report to DCI offices.
  • Two teachers have been arrested and prosecuted for radicalising and recruiting young people to join the Somalia-based Islamist group.
  • Some school have also been accused of allowing their students to carry mobile phones which they use to watch videos on radicalisation.
  • Isiolo is among the regions reported to be recruitment grounds for Al-Shabaab sympathisers.

At least 27 students have disappeared from schools in Isiolo County and are suspected to have joined Al-Shabaab and other terror groups, complicating efforts to tackle extremism in the region.

According to Isiolo County Commissioner George Natembeya, 20 are from secondary schools within the county while the rest are university students.

Mr Natembeya said only two people have surrendered to authorities after returning from Somalia.

He said the two who surrendered following a government amnesty were being closely monitored by the county security team and usually report to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices.

Isiolo is among the regions reported to be recruitment grounds for Al-Shabaab sympathisers.

Already, two teachers have been arrested and prosecuted for radicalising and recruiting young people to join the Somalia-based Islamist group.

PARENTS COLLABORATING WITH SHABAAB

The county boss accused some parents of collaborating with Al-Shabaab recruiters in the region for monetary gain.

He added there was a possibility that some parents and guardians were aware of plans by their children or relatives to cross over to Somalia for radical teachings but do not report it to authorities.

“We have intelligence that some parents are aware and support their families in joining terror groups but some [only] complain after feeling that the promised reward is not forthcoming,” noted Mr Natembeya.

Some schools in Isiolo have also been accused of allowing their students to carry mobile phones which they use to watch videos on radicalisation.

“We have identified some schools and investigations have already been launched to arrest and prosecute those aiding students to access the films,” Mr Natembeya added.

He urged schools in the county to be more vigilant and report such cases to authorities and cautioned that police had intensified their crackdown on Al-Shabaab recruiters and sympathisers in the region.

“The recruiters are targeting idle youth who are economically disadvantaged with promises of good life,” said Mr Mohammed Ali, a parent.

(Reporting by Vivian Jebet; Editing by Martin Kinyanjui)