NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 20 – Nearly six days after 23 year-old Hafsa Mohammed Lukman was reported missing and later established to have been kidnapped by a criminal gang operating in Nairobi’s vast Kayole area, all seemed lost, with the family contemplating the worst following days of an unfruitful search efforts.
On Sunday morning, the family was put at ease following news that their daughter had been found and rescued from the clutches of her would be captors, ending days of immeasurably pain and suffering, surprisingly characterized by a never ending belief and hope that she would be found alive.
The series of events that led to her being found might be considered to be one of sheer luck.
Though detectives had launched a search and rescue operation for her days after she was reported missing at the California Police Station on June 15, it was remarkably the actions of young girls in Matopeni area of Kayole who first heard her screams at an apartment, now established to have been vacant, kicking off a chain of reaction that saw her rescued.
Shahidi News can now reveal that Sunday morning, outside the building where she was being detained, children who were just playing first heard noises, which turned in loud screams and curiously decided to cautiously establish what they had just heard as they approached the building.
One of the young girls, first on the scene, raised the metallic flap on the door as she peeked through it, spotting Hafsa-who was crying out for help.
“At first when we heard someone screaming we did not bother, however the girl was screaming so loud so we decided to go and check what was happening,” said the young girl who found her.
Before interacting with her, she found a book by the door handle written on it, “call me or find me on Facebook,” indicative of who she was and how to assist her.
It has not yet been established who left the book and instructions by he door.
The young girl continued to narrate to Shahidi News how she spoke to her, upon which she said, “kindly assist me with some water, I have not drunk water for nearly 5 days” the girl said further revealing that, “she told me to help her or call an adult who would be able to rescue her.”
The girls further asked her who she was and attempted to give her some water though there was no easy way to sneak it through due to the narrow access point at the door.
It has also been established that she was several meters away with a corridor in between and her hands had been tied up, almost incapable of moving.
“It was as if one of her fingers had been cut badly since she had a piece of cloth wrapped on it,” said the young girl when she spoke to Shahidi News.
At this point, the children quickly rushed and called their parents and alerted them of what they had heard and seen.
Noor Abdulkadir, one of the first responders told Shahidi News that they arrived at the house and found the girl tied up and in agony.
“I peeked through the door and she kept saying, please help me, give me water, I have not drunk water for 5 days,” said Noor.
Several other local residents altered to what was happening quickly arrived at the scene and joined in the efforts to free her, but to no avail.
During their interactions, Hafsa revealed that on the fateful day she was kidnapped, she received a call from someone who posed as a customer. The said person requested her to deliver a bag of lemons at Junction area.
Hafsa operates a grocery business according to her family.
“She says she left Eastleigh and headed to Junction area, when she arrived, but she was forcefully grabbed and put inside an empty water tank. She kept saying she was not sure how she got here (Matopeni) as the gang had covered her face,” he said.
Local residents called police at the Kayole Police Station who broke into the house and untied Hafsa with her loved ones.
An Inspection of the house revealed that no one had lived there in a while and that Hafsa had been living in deplorable conditions.
She had allegedly been deprived of food only being given small portions as witnessed by empty dishes, banana peels and cake wraps on the floor.
Hafsa who could barely speak at the time had injuries on her face, indicative of being beaten up by her captors.
She was quickly taken to the Kayole Police Station where she recorded a statement and later rushed to hospital.
Local residents further revealed that the building, which hosts the 3 bedroom house at a rent of Sh7,500 has been vacant but previously housed an M-pesa shop.
“Before you allow anyone to occupy your property make sure you know who they are and make sure you take their particulars for security reasons,” said one of the residents.
Police have since arrested one suspect believed to be a member of the gang that kidnapped Hafsa and is being questioned. A manhunt operation is currently ongoing to track the other gang members.
He is believed to be the owner of the mobile phone that sent messages to Hafsa’s family demanding ransom.
Also arrested by police, early morning was a woman, believed to be the agent that leased the home to the gang that kidnapped Hafsa.
She however denied any involvement saying, “What have I done?,” as police say they are also pursuing her husband believed to be owner of the property.
Hafsa’s uncle thanked Kenyans for aiding in her search and rescue calling on police to heighten security across the area amidst increasing cases of kidnappings in the country.
“We want to thank God that she is okay, although she was beaten up by the gangs. Went to all government offices to ensure our daughter was found. Government must protect its people,” said Bishar Lukman, Hafsa’s Uncle.
The 23 year-old who was last captured on a CCTV footage at a shopping mall in Eastleigh neighbourhood of Kamukunji told police that her captors had abandoned her never to return.
Hafsa further told detectives that her kidnappers forced her on several occasions to immerse herself in an empty water tank, fashioned by the gang to easily transport her without detection and also as a means to scare and intimidate her.
It was also during this period, shortly after the family filed a missing persons report at the California police station that the gang demanded a Sh5 million ransom.
The gang constantly kept sending videos and images of Hafsa to her family threatening to end her life if the ransom was not delivered.
The gang was in communication with Hafsa’s family while constantly demanding the ransom at the same time they managed to get access of her ATM pin upon which they withdrew an unknown amount of money.
The matter was shortly after reported to the DCI and her ATM card disabled upon which the gang threatened to kill her.
The gang was demanding that her ATM card be re-activated after attempts to withdraw money proved futile.
Want to send us a story? Contact Shahidi News Tel: +254115512797 (Mobile & WhatsApp)
