Kilifi family protests arrest of kin by suspected anti-terror State agents

Jabran Hussein Mbarak who has gone missing in Malindi since last week, January 26, 2015. Photo by Gideon Maundu/standard.

A family in Malindi is in agony over the broad daylight kidnapping of their kin.

University student Jabran Hassan Mbarak, 25, was allegedly taken by men claiming to be State security officers on Thursday evening.

His family said the men grabbed him as he emerged from prayers at Masjid Noor mosque at about 5.30 pm and bundled him into a white Toyota Probox in full view of residents who reported the incident to them.

Speaking to the Press in Mombasa yesterday, his sister Johra said the family reported the matter at Malindi Police Station but police officers denied picking him up.

No word

“We tried to call his mobile phone number immediately after we got the kidnapping report but were unable to get through. Those who witnessed the incident have provided the car’s registration number and we gave these details to police but there is still no progress in the investigations,” she said.

Johra said her brother allegedly resisted arrest, prompting the kidnappers to shout orders claiming they were police before bundling him into the car and speeding away.

The mystery further deepened when on Friday, Kilifi Police Commander Joseph Nthenge said none of the police departments in the county had picked up the man.

“There is no police involvement in this incident. Police do not operate in private Probox cars like the one said to have been used by those who picked him up,” he said.

Curiously, immediately following Jabran’s disappearance, some activists with links to the Government posted messages on the internet claiming that two “terrorists” with alleged links to Al-Shabaab had been arrested outside Masjid Noor or Noor Mosque in Malindi. Residents now suspect that this posting was in reference to Jabran but say they are not aware of a second arrest being made.

“The two terrorists have been on police trail for months. Kudos to our police. Death to terrorists and those who mourn their deaths,” said the posting, from which Malindi police have distanced themselves.

Yesterday, Malindi Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) chairman Omar Salim Dima asked police to take the man to court if they are holding him in accordance with the law.

“Police should adhere to the law and present the suspect to court within 24 hours. I know the man and I am worried that his whereabouts remain unknown since he was picked up in a private car,” Dima said.

Johra, who was speaking at the Haki Africa offices in the company of Executive Director Hussein Khalid and Mombasa Imam Sheikh Abu Qatada, said her brother was working as an accounts clerk at the Total (Bonjour) petrol station in Malindi and was a student at Mt Kenya University.

“Our brother is a peace-loving man and was busy working and attending evening classes. We do not understand who picked him up and why. We are worried about his safety,” she said, pleading with his abductors to reach out to the family.

Worrying incident

Khalid told police to contact the family or their lawyer if they are in fact holding the man, adding that the manner in which he was arrested was worrying.

“In the last two weeks, two men have been gunned down in mysterious circumstances in Mombasa and we are concerned about this incident,” Khalid said.

Sheikh Qatada said he was worried that people have disappeared or been killed without conclusive investigations by police.

“I know this family very well and I regard what has happened to this man as a violation of human rights,” he said.

Jabran’s workmate, Michael Baya, said he and other workmates had received reports of their colleague’s mysterious ‘hijacking’ adding that he has not been seen since the incident occurred.

However, Malindi OCPD George Losku Ali has come out strongly backing commander Nthenge’s assertions that police did not arrest Jabran.

“I am not aware of the man’s arrest but we are investigating the claims,” he said.