Claims of abduction involving one Sadam Buke, an Isiolo resident, have been rejected by the National Police Service (NPS).
The police announced that Buke was apprehended and remains in their custody.
According to police, he was detained on suspicion of facilitating the Oromo Liberation Army in Isiolo and Marsabit counties.
“The National Police Service has taken notice of claims circulating on social media that an individual named Sadam Buke from Isiolo County has been abducted.
“We want to make it clear that Sadam Buke is in lawful custody along with others. According to the NPS, he is suspected of being a key facilitator and coordinator for the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in Isiolo and Marsabit Counties.
“We want to make it clear that Sadam Buke is in lawful custody along with others. According to the NPS, he is suspected of being a key facilitator and coordinator for the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in Isiolo and Marsabit Counties.
The Oromo Liberation Army operates as an armed opposition group within Ethiopia’s Oromia Region.
The OLA mainly comprises former armed members of the Oromo Liberation Front prior to the peace deal, who declined to disarm due to their skepticism about the agreement, as well as former youth protesters who became disillusioned with nonviolent resistance.
The police stated that his arrest, along with other suspects, is part of the ongoing Operation Ondoa Jangili in the two counties.
Buke and other unnamed suspects will face arraignment in court.
“He was taken into custody as part of the ongoing mounted ‘Operation Ondoa Jangili,’ which is being carried out in both Marsabit and Isiolo Counties,” the police reported.
Buke’s whereabouts had become a concern raised by Isiolo residents on social media.
As per eyewitness accounts, Buke was abducted by unidentified individuals from a restaurant in Isiolo, and his location was unclear.
‘Operation Ondoa Jangili’ is a targeted security initiative undertaken by teams from various agencies to eliminate the hideouts used by the OLA.
This followed accusations from both Kenya and Ethiopia that the OLA had perpetrated crimes in the region.
This development followed discussions involving President William Ruto and Redwan Hussien, Ethiopia’s Director General of the National Intelligence Security Service, with Noordin Haji, Kenya’s Director General of National Intelligence Service, also present.
