Isiolo, Kenya – Gunmen seized two South Korean missionaries in a daring raid on their home in northern Kenya on Monday evening, local authorities confirmed. Simultaneously, a separate attack in the region claimed the lives of eight Kenyans.
The incident occurred in Marsabit County, a region notorious for its volatile security situation. The arid borderlands between Kenya and Ethiopia have long been a hotbed of armed groups, with frequent raids and clashes plaguing the area. In response to the escalating violence, the Kenyan government launched a security operation last year aimed at disarming bandits and restoring order.
According to Marsabit County Governor Mohamud Ali, the two South Korean missionaries were abducted and remain captive. A local official revealed that a South Korean man and his mother-in-law were taken from their residence in Odda village around 9 p.m. local time. The victim’s mobile phone was last tracked to the Ethiopia border, but subsequent attempts to locate him have been unsuccessful.
In a separate attack, gunmen in camouflage ambushed a lorry carrying eight people approximately 100 kilometers west of Moyale town. All occupants were fatally shot, and their bodies were set ablaze.
As investigations into both incidents are underway, fear and uncertainty continue to grip the region. The Kenyan authorities have pledged to intensify security measures to protect civilians and apprehend the perpetrators.
The South Korean embassy in Nairobi has yet to issue a statement on the abduction.
