Five herders who were reportedly abducted by suspected al-Shabaab militants in the Wantey Dam area of Lafey Sub-County, Mandera County, have been released and reunited with their families.
The five men, all members of the Murule community from Alungu, were released on Monday evening following intervention by local peace elders and elders from Damasa in neighbouring Somalia.
Officials said the men were freed at about 6pm after sustained engagement between the elders.
Police said all five were found to be in good health after their release and had returned to their families in Alungu.
The incident had raised concern among residents in the border area, where cross-border movement and insecurity linked to al-Shabaab militants remain a persistent threat.
The release followed an earlier report of the suspected abduction of the five herders at Wantey Dam, an area close to the Kenya-Somalia border.
The involvement of elders from both sides of the border highlights the continued role of traditional community structures in resolving security-related incidents and negotiating the release of people caught up in cross-border conflicts.
Police said they were continuing to follow up on the circumstances surrounding the abduction.
Their captors reportedly demanding livestock or cash for their release.
The incident occurred early Tuesday morning in the Wantey Dam area of Lafey Sub-County.
The militants reportedly demanded three goats for each of the abducted men, or Sh6,000 per person, as a condition for their release. They also allegedly offered an alternative demand of one camel for each hostage.
It is not clear if the demands were met.
One of the six herders managed to escape, while five others remained in captivity before they were released.
The area is near the Kenya-Somalia border where the militants breach frequently amid sustained operations.
