Garissa family demands answers over disappearance of 57-year-old Hulugho herder

The family of a 57-year-old livestock herder, Siyad Abdi Omar, has demanded answers from security agencies regarding his disappearance. Siyad, a husband of three wives and father of nine, was last seen on September 27, when people believed to be security officers arrived at his home in Hulugho, Garissa County, and took him away.

His relatives spoke to the media at a family member's home in Garissa town on Tuesday, four days after his disappearance, expressing their urgent need for answers. According to the family, the incident occurred around midday when the security officers asked for Siyad, who was reportedly away looking for his goats. The officers allegedly arrested him, bundled him into a vehicle, and drove away.

The family has been left desperately searching for information about Siyad's whereabouts, as residents claim he was taken to different locations, with some suggesting he may still be within Hulugho. The family has also raised concerns over the difficulties they faced in reporting the disappearance to police, stating that they were allegedly turned away without receiving an Occurrence Book (OB) number.

Siyad's family has appealed to national and local leaders to intervene and locate him, emphasizing their legal right to know his fate. The chairman of the Garissa Human Rights Network, Muktar Dahir Osman, called for the government and security agencies to account for Siyad, asserting that he should be taken to court and his family informed if he has committed an offence.