NAIROBI, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan police said Thursday they are questioning a university student wanted over a series of terror incidents in the country.
Salad Tarif Gufu surrendered to police in Nairobi maintaining he is not a terrorist as claimed by police who on Wednesday circulated his name and photographs urging the public to give information that may lead to his arrest and four others.
"As a citizen and a student, am being suspected for a crime that I am not even capable of. My friends know me and attest to my innocence. I therefore encourage you all to spread this message of truth: Salad wasn't, isn't and won't be a terrorist," he said in his Facebook.
The suspect was later handed over to the anti-terror police unit who took him in for questioning. Salad denied police claims he is a terrorist and had planned attacks in parts of Lamu County.
Police and intelligence officials said the terrorists are trooping to Lakta belt near Boni Forest in Lamu with an aim of attacking locals.
"I am not involved in any terror activities and I am not armed like the police are saying. I am a student at the Moi University and I just completed my attachment waiting to resume my studies in September after the elections," Salad said.
The police report released on Wednesday says Gufu had opened a studio at the Marsabit town market secretly selling VCDs and DVDs of radical sheikhs who propagate jihad.
"He is also affiliated to Mohammed Abdi Ali aka Abu Fidaa, an online Islamic State recruiter. Abu Fidaa was arrested before he could launch an Anthrax attack in Kenya in 2016,"the police said.
The police said terrorists who are fleeing increased attacks in Somalia have reportedly dispatched five militants to lead the planned attacks and police believe some of their relatives are involved in helping them sneak and hide in the country.
Security agencies said Kenyan relatives could be trying to aid the return of their brothers fighting alongside Al-Shabaab in Somalia so that they can join the war in Boni forest.
The authorities want the public to help them in tracing the whereabouts of the wanted men with a bounty of Sh2 million on each of them.
Those wanted include Abdikadir Mohamed aka Ikrima, Mohammed Tajir Ali, Suleiman Irungu Mwangi as well as brothers Salad Tari Gufu and Gufu Tari Gufu.
