KDF Soldier Thought Dead Since 2016 El Adde Attack Resurfaces Alive

A Kenyan soldier who was assumed dead for nearly a decade has been found alive and has given an account of the deadly 2016 raid on a military base in Somalia.

Sergeant Abdullahi Issa Ibrahim, who is a member of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), has revealed that he has been held hostage by the terror organization Al-Shabaab since January 15, 2016.

This was during the raid on the Kenyan military base in Somalia in the Gedo region.

In an account of his life, Sergeant Ibrahim reveals how he has been with the military for decades and how his life began back in Wajir County. He reveals:

“My name is Sergeant Abdullahi Issa Ibrahim. I was born in Wajir County back in 1963. I joined the Kenya Defence Forces in 1986, still a young man then, full of duty and pride.”

El Adde Attack and Capture

The soldier described the attack as sudden and overwhelming, noting that the day began routinely before descending into chaos.

“That morning of 15 January 2016 started like any other, when all of a sudden the world exploded around us,” he said.

According to Ibrahim, militants infiltrated the camp overnight before launching a coordinated assault at dawn.

“Al-Shabaab hit us hard. They had sneaked into our positions during the night. Gunfire started pouring in from every side,” he recounted, adding that, “bombs in vehicles tore through the wire” as “hundreds of militants came rushing in.”

He described intense fighting that led to the collapse of the base.

“I fought as long as I could. But they were too many, too ready for us. Our defences crumbled. A lot of my brothers died in that camp that day.”

After the base fell, Ibrahim was captured alongside other survivors.

“They took us prisoner, tied us up, and marched us away from the ruins of El Adde,” he said.

Also Read: Nakuru County Launches Military Veterans Chapter to Honor KDF Retirees

Years in Captivity

Ibrahim revealed he has spent more than nine years in captivity, enduring harsh conditions under constant guard.

“For more than nine years now, I have been a prisoner of war. The days out long, the nights even longer,” he said.

During this period, his family was informed he was missing and presumed dead.

With no body recovered, authorities issued a death certificate, and relatives mourned his loss.

“Since my body was never found in the camp, the military issued a death certificate. They held prayers for me,” he said, adding that his wife and children had to rebuild their lives believing he was gone.

However, weeks ago, Ibrahim managed to contact his daughter, an emotional moment that confirmed he was alive.

“Hearing her voice after all those years, it broke me and lifted me at the same time,” he said.

Plea to Government

In a video later released by Al-Shabaab, Ibrahim appealed directly to the Kenyan government to secure his release and that of other captives.

“I asked the government of Kenya, our leaders, please do whatever it takes to bring us back. We have waited too long,” he said, emphasizing that some soldiers remain alive in captivity.

He underscored his deteriorating condition due to age and prolonged detention.

“I am past sixty years old now. My hair has turned grey. But inside, I still hold on to hope.”

The soldier also paid tribute to his family, particularly his daughter Katra, for advocating for his return. “Your courage gives me courage,” he said.

Also Read: DPP Secures Conviction of Somali National Over Al-Shabaab Recruitment Plot

Call for Action

Ibrahim urged authorities and the public not to forget soldiers who never returned from Somalia missions.

“We are your sons, your brothers, your fathers. We went to Somalia to serve the nation,” he said.

Reaffirming his identity and survival, he concluded with a powerful statement: “I am not a ghost. I am a living Kenyan soldier who has spent more than eight years in captivity. I just want to come home.”

His account sheds new light on one of the deadliest attacks involving Kenyan troops in Somalia and raises renewed questions about missing soldiers and efforts to secure their return.

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