A Kenyan government employee who disappeared four months ago has been freed by the Al-Shabaab in Somalia under unusual circumstances, according to multiple security and community reports.

The officer, identified as Hussein Abdirahman, the Head of Wajir Huduma Centre and also referred to as “D.O/ACC Hussein,” was released in Buale after being held incognito by the militant group.

Sources indicated that Al-Shabaab allegedly reported that Hussein was “mentally disturbed,” prompting his eventual release.

Initial information received on November 18, 2025, at 08.10 pm indicated that Hussein had been surrendered to Ajuran community representatives in Buale.

Handed Over to Ajuran Elders

According to the reportee, his physical description “matched that of the missing Huduma officer.”

The militants allegedly informed the elders that they had held him with a “clear objective” but realized he was “unhelpful “due to his mental state and feared he might die in their hands.

The officer said to be 6’4 and physically weakened, had reportedly become violent without his calming medication.

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On the morning of November 19, around 0800 hours, Hussein was accompanied by Ajuran elders out of Buale towards Yare, which is the last Al-Shabaab checkpoint on the Dobley road.

The group included “three strong men and the freed captive,” who departed the area by vehicle and were expected to arrive at Yare by afternoon.

The militants are said to have instructed Kenyan elders who planned to receive him to carry the mental calming injection Hussein was accustomed to, warning that he could be uncontrollable without it.

The team transporting Hussein reached Yaraa on November 20, after they were derailed by heavy rains.

There, he was handed over to another Ajuran team from Dobley, who completed the last part of the trip.

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Safely in Government Hands

Hussein has since arrived in Dobley, where he was welcomed by Jubaaland troops before formally being handed over to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) for further care, processing, and medical attention.

The government is expected to brief the public once preliminary assessments are complete.

This is a poster of two months ago requesting the public to report if they saw or met Hussein
Image/Account/Tiktok