Three people taken hostage by suspected Al-Shabaab militants Tuesday evening have been rescued.
The three were among four people kidnapped after an ambulance they were travelling in was hijacked along Lafey- Elwak road, Mandera County, and commandeered towards Somalia.
According to local leaders, the three; Moulid Abdi (a patient), his relative Aden Dai and Lafey hospital paramedic Abdirashid Billow Hussein, were released at El-Adde, Somalia, and escorted to the border by Somalia's security officers.
The fate of the fourth hostage - the ambulance's driver, remains unknown.
Speaking to The Standard, Lafey MP Mohamed Abdiker applauded the police for the security operation that led to the safe return of the three.
"I would thank our gallant officers who have worked with their counterparts in Somalia and returned three of the abducted persons to their homes safely", said Abdiker.
Abdiker went on to call for the safe release of the Mandera County driver.
Confirming the rescue, Mandera County Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha said his office was collaborating with that of his counterpart in Somalia's Gedo region to ensure the return of the driver and recovery of the ambulance.
"I pray that the driver will also be found safe," said Kyatha on phone.
The driver is reported to have been ordered to drive the militants to their suspected hideout in the interior of the country.
