Armed FBI agents, police raid Islamic school, arrest innocent children in Mombasa

By standers record the incident as police and the FBI were raiding Madarasatul Falah (Courtesy)

By; @Abdirahman_khal

NAIROBI—FBI agents, the Scotland Yard and armed Kenyan police raided a Madrasa in Likoni, Mombasa county,  and picked over 90 children.

The police suspected the children were victims of minor trafficking syndicate across several nations and continents.

Four Kenyan teachers were also arrested.

Kenyan police declined to divulge any information on the raid but Muslim leaders claimed that white men – possibly foreigners, were involved.

The police are yet to give any information concerning the raid, Muslim leaders in coast have however condemned the raid.

“The children were terrorized by the unexpected raid,” sheikh Mohammad told Kulan Post.

Twenty children among the 95 arrested are said to be foreigners though their country of origin could not immediately be established. However the police indicated that some were from Zimbabwe.

The children were not allowed to speak to their parents or guardians. Some parents accused the police of not informing them of their children’s arrest. By yesterday evening, anxious parents were still seen at the Coast police headquarters trying to secure freedom for their children.

Witnesses said Several FBI agents and armed Kenyan police detectives arrived at Madrasatul Falah Al Islamiyah at around 9 in the morning.

Madrasatul Falah is six years old Islamic institution and is known for offering Quran memorization to Muslims at its elementary levels and later the learners are introduced to other Islamic subjects such as Fiqh, Hadith and Seera.

Traumatized children and bewildered teachers scuttled for cover but the detectives bundled them into waiting police vehicles which sped over towards Likoni Ferry.

Sources close to the police have confirmed that the FBI took the children away for further investigations.

Coast County Regional Commander Larry ki’eng confirmed the raid, “yes its true, I don’t have details about the incident now,” Mr Ki’eng said.

Council for Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) treasurer Sheikh Hassan Omar said the raid was unconstitutional and uncalled for.

“I was at the Madrasa two weeks ago and I found it clean and operating in accordance with safety standards. The environment is very conducive. It teaches the Quran and nothing susceptive takes place there,” Mr Omar said. He added that police had no any right to arrest law-abiding citizens.