In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…
- Two South Korean missionaries were abducted by armed assailants in Moyale, Marsabit County, sparking a significant security response.
- Efforts to locate them are ongoing, with national security teams conducting extensive search operations, though no leads have been found yet.
Tension in Moyale, Marsabit County, has reached new heights following the abduction of two South Korean missionaries on Monday evening.
The region, already burdened by sporadic violence and lawlessness from across the border, now faces a renewed wave of insecurity that has left the local community in a state of shock and fear.
The victims, David Lee and his mother-in-law, Hiwi Sokk Cheon, were forcibly taken from their residence within the Odda Mission Church (OMC) Secondary School compound around 9 p.m.
Armed assailants, whose identities remain unknown, stormed their home, dragging the missionaries away and leaving behind a trail of terror.
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Known for their dedicated community outreach programs that provided crucial aid and support, the missionaries’ abduction has sent shockwaves through the community, raising concerns for the safety of those who have committed their lives to helping others in this volatile area.
Marsabit County Commissioner James Kamau confirmed the incident during a press conference on Tuesday, August 13.
He revealed that the missionaries were targeted by gunmen in a carefully planned operation.
The attackers, armed with rifles, entered the compound with precision, abducted the missionaries, and vanished into the night.
The violence did not stop there. In a separate but equally horrifying incident, gunmen in “jungle attire” ambushed a lorry west of Moyale city, about 100 kilometers from the abduction site.
The assailants shot and killed eight people before setting their bodies on fire beside the lorry.
The brutality of these acts has left the region reeling, with many questioning the effectiveness of the government’s ongoing security operations.
Efforts to locate the kidnapped missionaries have so far been unsuccessful. Deputy County Commissioner David Saruni disclosed that the last known signal from David Lee’s mobile phone was traced to the border with Ethiopia.
However, the trail has since gone cold, as the phone was switched off, heightening concerns for their safety.
The South Korean embassy in Nairobi has been notified of the abduction and is working closely with Kenyan authorities to secure the missionaries’ release.
However, the embassy has yet to comment publicly on the situation, leaving many questions unanswered.
Meanwhile, national security teams have launched a comprehensive search operation to find the kidnapped missionaries.
The operation includes ground patrols, aerial surveillance, and intelligence gathering, all aimed at locating and safely retrieving David Lee and Hiwi Sokk Cheon.
Commissioner Kamau has reassured the public that no effort will be spared in bringing the perpetrators to justice and ensuring the safe return of the hostages.
“Our primary focus is on the safe recovery of the hostages. We are working tirelessly to apprehend those responsible for this heinous act and to prevent any further incidents,” Kamau stated.