by CYRUS OMBATI
Thursday November 16, 2023
STAR ILLUSTRATION
A prominent businessman based in Garissa was Wednesday arrested in a dramatic operation at the Tana River Bridge.
The businessman is alleged to be linked to a popular hospital in Garissa Town, police said.
He was detained in the ongoing probe into claims the hospital is providing medical supplies to Somalia’s al Shabaab terror group.
He has denied the claims. He was however later released after he complained he had been injured during the arresting drama.
Police said he was driving his four-wheel drive car and had arrived at a bridge, which is usually a major checkpoint when he was stopped at about midday.
According to police, when asked to get out he refused and locked his car, which prompted a confrontation that lasted over 30 minutes.
Police said they used what they termed as reasonable force to remove him from the car.
The team from the anti-terror police unit had to break into the car to get the businessman and drive with him to the police station.
He later complained of pain in his left hip, which forced his admission to Garissa General Hospital at about 7 pm.
He was later given a police bond and ordered to return to the station for further grilling over the claims.
This comes amid ongoing operations on terrorism in the country, which has led to the arrest of dozens of suspects.
Multi-agency teams are involved in operations aimed at taming terror plans in the country.
Areas near the Kenya-Somalia border have suffered terror attacks that have affected many operations and development at large.
Terrorists have been planting explosives on the routes used by security agencies and public service vehicles which has resulted in many officers losing lives and others sustaining injuries.
Properties have also been destroyed in the incidents.
The border region has borne the brunt of repeated attacks from the militants.
Al-Shabaab terrorists have been attacking places such as Mandera, Lamu and Garissa counties after breaching security zones, which left dozens of civilians and security officials dead and wounded.