Mandera County Police Commander Jeremiah Kosiom has revealed that two Cuban doctors abducted in Mandera four months ago are still alive in Somalia but have since been moved to a forested area.
Suspected Al-Shabaab militants abducted the two medics after ambushing their convoy in April this year, killing one of their guards after gunfire exchanges.
Since then, little is known about the government’s efforts to rescue Dr Landy Rodriguez (a surgeon) and Dr Herera Correa (general practitioner).
But according to the police boss, search and rescue mission has been intensified in the war torn country. However, he ruled out exact date when the two are expected to be freed.
“Efforts are ongoing to rescue the doctors but I don’t know when they will be released. What I know is that they are alive wherever they are,” said Mandera police commander
In April, elders from Mandera crossed over the border to negotiate on their release. After days of struggling, they eventually met the doctors in the outskirts of El-Adde.
“Those we met at El-Adde denied abducting the doctors but admitted holding them in one of their hideouts. We were mistreated there,” one of the elders told the Nation.They returned after two weeks in El-Adde.
“We eventually met the doctors but after a tough time. They (Somali elders) warned against sustained military attacks on their camps in search of the Cubans and we agreed on condition that the doctors are not harmed,” said the elder.
A recent security report showed that the doctors were moved to Halaanqo forest near Barawe town where they were allegedly converted to Islam.