By RFPosted on 26-11-2018Modified on 26-11-2018 at 20:53

This November 27, it will be a week that a 23-year-old Italian was abducted in southeastern Kenya. Silvia Romano, a volunteer for the NGO Africa Milele Onlus was kidnapped by a commando of armed men in the locality of Chakama. The act has still not been claimed but Somali shebabs are suspected. In the meantime, the hunt continues.

The manhunt continues and Kenya is making great efforts to find Silvia Romano. Twenty people have, for the moment, been arrested.

" They gave us valuable information. The kidnappers are still unknown, but we should be able to find the hostage as soon as possible, "said Inspector General Joseph Boinett optimistically.

A notice to search for three suspects was released, with a reward of $ 30,000 for any information allowing their capture. The wife of one of the three men was also arrested after intercepting a conversation between her and her wanted husband.

Areas of Operation Shebabs

Two motorcycles allegedly used in the flight of the commando were also recovered. Their owners are not, at the moment, considered suspects, but the authorities have released their names and identity numbers, asking them to report immediately to a police station.

The hunt focuses on the Garsen areas in Tana River County and Boni Forest on the Somali border. These are two areas where shebabs are suspected of operating.

Although the police still do not reject the thesis of a villainous act, Islamists remain strongly suspected, one of the risks being that they bring the Italian back to Somalia. This is what happened with their last Western hostages in 2011, two Spanish humanitarians released after 21 months and the French Marie Dedieu , who died in captivity.

    On the same subject

    Kenya: around Dadaab camp, Christians are the target of Shebabs

    In northern Kenya, women are easy prey to Somali shebabs

    The Shebab terrorists, a plague for Somali refugees in northern Kenya

    Kenya: Shebab attacks scare teachers in north-east

    Marie Dedieu, the French hostage kidnapped in Kenya has passed away

    comments

    Republish this content

    You are free to republish this article for free on your website. We ask you to follow these Basic Rules

    The Partner undertakes not to infringe the moral rights of journalists. As such, the Content must be reproduced and represented by the Partner as made available by RFI, without modifications, cuts, additions, incrustations, alterations, reductions or insertions

    Add this article to your website by copying the code below.

    Copy to clipboard