Kenyan Military Officer, University Student Arrested in Nairobi for Abducting Three People, Demanding Ransom

A Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) officer and a Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) student are among suspects arrested in connection with an abduction incident in Nairobi. 

The two were arrested on Monday by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for allegedly kidnapping three people in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate and demanding ransom from the victims' families.

The military officer identified as Private Mohamed Sharmake Abdi (No.95592) is based at Kahawa Barracks and was arrested alongside Abdi Hamid Mohamed Abdi, a student at KeMU.

Three other suspects; Abdikalif Mohammed Noor, Ahmed Abdullahi Abdi and Salah Abdi were arrested alongside the two in Eastleigh.

"Detectives last night arrested 5 abductors among them a university student & a soldier, within Eastleigh area & rescued 3 victims. The abductors were demanding for Sh5,000 release fee from each victim," DCI said in a tweet on Tuesday.

“The soldier, No. 95592, Private Mohamed Sharmake Abdi of Kahawa Barracks, Abdi Hamid Mohamed Abdi a Student at the Kenya Methodist University, Mr Abdikalif Mohammed Noor, Ahmed Abdullahi Abdi and Salah Abdi will be arraigned in court today (Tuesday),” the DCI said in the statement.

The three victims have since been rescued.