IPOA begins probe into alleged police involvement in abductions

IPOA Chairperson Issac Hassan. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority is probing police involvement in the rising abduction cases in the country.

In a press statement on Tuesday, IPOA chair Issack Hassan said the worrying trend should end and those found culpable brought to justice.

"IPOA is concerned with the rising cases of abductions of various persons allegedly by members of the National Police Service (NPS). This is after reports of the abductions emerged in mainstream media and in social media," Issack stated.

The Authority has vowed to also investigate the recent abductions of; Messrs. Bill Mwangi, Peter Muteti Njeru, Bernard Kavuli, and a fourth yet-to-be-identified person who were reported to have been abducted on various dates this month in Embu, Nairobi and Kajiado counties.

"Rapid Response Teams were dispatched to the areas of incidents with instructions to obtain all information that may be relevant in unveiling the circumstances surrounding the abductions and whether there was police involvement as generally alleged," he added.

IPOA has also promised to make recommendations for prosecution, internal disciplinary action, or any other appropriate relief, and shall make public the responses
received to these recommendations.

At the same time, Issac has urged the Inspector General of Police to take urgent measures to stop the worrying trend of abductions across the country.