Family pleads for help over abducted Moyale trader

On November 19, 2021, Moyale businessman Saddam Hassan Ali was abducted in full view of his neighbours.

Speaking to the Nation on Tuesday, the abducted businessman’s father, Mzee Ali Hassan, said his son’s captors wore balaclavas and carried heavy calibre weapons.

Almost a week later, Mr Hassan's whereabouts remain unknown.

His father, who lives with disability following injuries he sustained in a road accident that left him with a broken hip, said Mr Ali was the family’s sole breadwinner.

Mr Ali was the source of livelihood for his four children, two wives, three siblings, his father and his mother.

Mzee Ali said his son had just closed his shop around 8.30pm when he was abducted.

Hardly had he boarded his motorcycle when he was approached by six armed men who had an assortment of weapons, including pistols, AK47, G3 and even sub-machine guns.

Shoved to the ground

One of his shop attendants, a boy aged about 15 years, tried to shield Mr Ali but was shoved to the ground.

As he fell to the ground, the boy raised the alarm, drawing the attention of the neighbours, who came to help rescue Mr Ali.

However, the abductors overpowered the crowd and quickly bundled the businessman into a Toyota Hilux, whose registration number was partly concealed.

The abductors, who had disguised themselves with balaclavas, robes, bandanas or turbans, quickly drove off towards Nairobi.

Mzee Ali said his son had dedicated most of his time to his shop for the eight years he had been around since completing his secondary education, adding that he had not been involved in any criminal activities.

Mzee Ali said they had recorded a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Anti-Terror Police Unit at the Moyale Police Station and informed Moyale Deputy County Commissioner William ole Kakimon about the incident.

Not aware of security operation

The family was, however, told that the sub-county security team was not aware of any security operation being undertaken in the area.

A signal was circulated across Marsabit County in efforts to intercept the vehicle at police barriers.

 Mr Kakimon confirmed the case had been reported at Moyale Police Station, adding that investigations were underway, but denied that security officers had undertaken any security operation that night.

"I confirm that the disappearance of Sadam Hassan Ali was reported at Moyale Police Station and investigations are still underway. For now we are treating it as a case of a missing person,” said Mr Kakimon.

It has been five days since his abduction and no one knows of his whereabouts.

Mr Ali’s family and friends have been desperately trying to establish where he could have been taken and whether he is alive or dead.

Moyale business community elder, Mzee Abdullahi Osman, affirmed that they had reported the abduction incident at Moyale Police Station the same night.

Mr Abubakar Abdullahi, a cousin of the missing businessman, held that their kin was very polite and spent most of his time at his shop, adding that the businessman was not linked to criminal activities.

A neighbour, Ms Rahma Sheriff, said she bought foodstuff from the missing man's shop.

She described him as a good man who never crossed anyone's path.

The praises were echoed by Mzee Mustfa Hussein, who appealed to the state to help them trace the abducted businessman.

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