A Kenyan-born Al-Shabaab recruit on Friday surrendered at one of Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) Forward Operating Bases, a year after joining the terrorists group, reports have emerged.
Hassan Hussein, 24, who was born in Tana River, surrendered at Burahache, near Kenya-Somalia border amid ongoing operation to weaken the militants.
Intelligence reports indicate that he had completed his training at the beginning of Ramadhan and was due for deployment in Wajir. An AK-47 was recovered.
"A Kenyan Al-Shabaab by the name Hassan Hussein Ali, has today 29 May 19, defected in Burahache at about 1630 Hrs. Born in Bangal, Tana River County in 1995. He joined AS in August 2018 and just completed training a month before Ramadan and was in the process of deployment along Wajir," a source tagged VOA journalist Harun Maruf.
In the recent weeks, the militants have intensified their attack in various towns in Somalia. However, AMISOM forces along with Somalia National Army, have contained a number of attacks.
On Thursday, there was an attempted raid at a KDF base in Afmadow but soldiers repulsed the attack. The number of casualties still remain unknown until now.
"Suspected Al-Shabaab militants fired on Kenya military base in Afmadow, Somalia, in the early hours of Thursday. Troops reportedly responded with heavy fire, forcing militants to retreat. Casualties not known," Maruf tweeted.
Worthy to note, the defection comes just five days after Army Commander Lieutenant General Walter Raria visited various Forward Operating Bases where he encouraged soldiers to defend Kenya's integrity.