DCI forms team to probe whereabouts of two missing women

NAIROBI—Fear has gripped Nairobi on Thursday morning after video emerged of a badly wounded woman requesting her parents to pay ransom for her release.

The woman—Hafsa Luqman—went missing earlier the week, according to family members. She’s a businesswoman based at the Kamukunji Trading Centre.

“Please pay for my freedom,” Hafsa said in the 35- second video sent to her parents by unknown people who are holding her captive. They demanded that they be paid Sh 5 million for her freedom. Hafsa appears tortured, terrified, in pain; her lips swollen and the face covered in blood stains. Blindfolded, her legs and hands are tied.

“Say it in Swahili,” her captor orders.

Just as the news of Hafsa was doing round across the social media platforms, a new victim was reported missing.

Hafsa Abdulwahab was last seen at her watermelon store in Kayole. Family members said they reported the matter at the local Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)

“Her clothes were found at the store stained in blood and the shoes she last wore was left at the scene,” noted a family member who did not wish to be named.

“The detectives said they would get back to us by close of business today but we are yet to get information,” the family member added.

The DCI told Kulan Post that the department set up a special team to deal with the new case.

“We (DCI) formed a team to investigate and put the perpetrators to book. It’s a new case and we can’t divulge further information at this juncture,” a statement by the DCI sent to Kulan Post said.

The families of the missing women are appealing to the public to share any information with the authorities for proper location and identification of the suspected abductors.