A suspected Al-Shabaab explosives expert surrendered on Saturday in the outskirts of Mogadishu before escaping from a local police cell where he was being held for interrogation, reports have emerged.
The incident took exactly the same time an explosion planted in a village at Wajir in Kenya killed at least seven police officers who were tracing 3 NPRs who had been abducted.
“The officers were on a routine patrol when the unfortunate incident happened, two officers survived the attack and are being treated at Wajir County Referral Hospital while two others are still missing,” Loyford Kibaara, Wajir County Commissioner confirmed.
And the militant, who is believed to be the brainchild behind several Improvised Explosive Devices that have been used by Al-Shabaab in the recent past, had voluntarily surrendered.
Hours later, VOA journalist Harun Maruf said, he escaped from the police cells where he was waiting for interrogation. Reports claim that he feared for his security.
"An Al-Shabaab explosives expert who surrendered to Mogadishu police escaped after he felt his safety was “neglected”. Report says the unnamed operative contacted Mogadishu police Cmdr Sadiq John Saturday about intentions to surrender," Maruf said in a tweet.
"The man was then placed under the custody of Waberi police station. On Saturday officers from Waberi were deployed at roads due to parliament mtg. After the VBIED explosion, Waberi cmndr took remaining officers with him and went to the scene of explosion which falls under Waberi," he added.
According to the report, the Al-Shabaab man walked out of the Waberi station because he felt his safety has been compromised, his whereabouts remains unknown. There has been no reaction or confirmation of the incident from the government so far.
Last week, four Al-Shabaab militants died on spot in Lamu after explosives they were planting went off. The militants have been using landmines lately to eliminate their perceived enemies.