Masked men abducted British and Turkish nationals in Nairobi, Kenya, on Friday. The British man, Necdet Seyitoğlu, said that four Turkish individuals abducted with him remain missing. According to Seyitoğlu, who resided in the UK for 18 years before moving to Kenya two years ago, his abductors released him after eight hours when he submitted a copy of his British passport.
The UK Foreign Office said they’re “providing consular support to a British man and his family following an incident in Kenya.” Kenyan police are investigating a “kidnapping” after a motorcyclist saw two cars block a silver saloon car from the front and back. Police spokesperson Resila Onyango said eight armed men took the car’s two occupants and drove away.
Seyitoğlu, an education expert, expanded on the kidnapping specifics. He and a friend were heading home from work when a white SUV stopped them. Four armed guys blindfolded and shackled them before driving them somewhere unknown. The men refused to explain or identify themselves despite repeated demands.
Seyitoğlu says it was the worst experience of his life. He proved his British citizenship by showing the abductors a copy of his passport on his phone. They photographed the passport and then released him after receiving a call allegedly instructing them to do so. The Swahili-speaking masked men left him in an unexpected area, paid him 1,000 shillings for transportation, and kept his phone and laptop.
Seyitoğlu’s wife reported him missing to the British High Commission. Six other Turkish citizens were taken similarly from Nairobi locations, he said. Mukele & Kakai, a local law firm, is defending four abducted people and urging airlines not to deport them to Turkey. Seven Turkish asylum seekers were taken to Kenya and may risk political persecution in Turkey, according to Amnesty International.
