The US Government has announced a Sh2.7 Billion bounty to anyone with details on the whereabouts of six top leaders of the Al Shabaab militia group, including the mastermind of the April 2 attack on Garissa University College.
In a report released on Tuesday, the US Department of State through the Rewards for Justice Program, said that the colossal amount would be given to whoever revealed the hideouts of the terrorists who had killed thousands of civilians, aid workers, and peacekeepers in Kenya, Uganda and Somalia since 2006.
“The U.S. Secretary of State has authorized rewards of up to Sh613 Million for information on the whereabouts of Abu Ubaidah (Direye), up to Sh511 Million each for information on Mahad Karate, Ma’alim Daud, and Hassan Afgooye, and up to Sh306 Million each for information on Maalim Salman and Ahmed Iman Ali,” the statement stated in part.
The six were identified as ringleaders of the militia group holding major positions.
According to the report, Mahad Karate, also known as Abdirahman Mohamed Warsame had played a key role in the wing of Al-Shabaab responsible for assassinations and the April 2 attack on Garissa University College that left 147 students dead.
The statement also outlined that Ahmed Iman Ali had recruited Kenyan youth and raised funds for the militia group.
It further revealed that Hassan Afgooye was reponsible for overseeing a complex financial network, whose activities ranged from fake charities and fundraising, to racketeering and kidnapping in support of al-Shabaab's activities,
According to the statement, Maalim Salman led Al-Shabaab’s African foreign terrorist fighters and had been involved in operations in the continent targeting tourists, entertainment establishments, and churches.
Abu Ubaidah, also known as Direye, was named the leader of Al-Shabaab on September 6, 2014, after the death of former Al- Shabaab emir Ahmed Abdi aw-Mohamed (a.k.a. Godane).
Ma’alim Daud was responsible for terror group's planning, recruitment, training, and operations against the government of Somalia and Western targets.
