Crime sceneFive herders abducted by suspected al-Shabaab militants near the Kenya-Somalia border have been released after local elders stepped in to negotiate their freedom.
The five men, all from Alungu in Mandera County, were freed on Monday evening following sustained intervention by local peace elders and elders from Damasa in neighbouring Somalia.
Police said the men were found in good health and had since returned to their families.
The five were reportedly abducted early Monday morning while in the Wantey Dam area of Lafey Sub-County. One of the six herders managed to escape, while the other five were taken captive.
Their captors reportedly demanded three goats for each of the men, or Sh6,000 per person, as a condition for their release. They also allegedly offered an alternative demand of one camel for each hostage.
It remains unclear whether any of the demands were met.
Officials said the release followed sustained engagement between elders from both sides of the border, highlighting the role of traditional community structures in resolving security incidents and negotiating the release of people caught up in cross-border conflicts.
The abduction had raised concern among residents in the border area, where cross-border movement and insecurity linked to al-Shabaab militants remain a persistent threat.
Police said they were continuing to follow up on the circumstances surrounding the abduction.
The militants have previously been accused of abducting Kenyans for monetary gains, while foreigners have also been targeted in the region.
A South Korean couple abducted in the area last year is reportedly being held in a part of Somalia controlled by the militants.
The area around Wantey Dam has remained vulnerable to militant activity, with Kenya sustaining security operations along the border to address attacks and other threats linked to al-Shabaab.
