A British national of Turkish origin and several Turkish citizens have reportedly been abducted in Nairobi, Kenya, according to local police and eyewitness accounts. The incident has sparked concerns about potential political motivations behind the kidnappings and the safety of asylum seekers in the country.
Kenyan police spokeswoman Resila Onyango reported that two vehicles intercepted a silver saloon car, and approximately eight armed individuals forcibly removed two occupants. Yusuf Kar, identified as a British national of Turkish origin, later reported the incident to the police, naming the abducted men as Hüseyin Yeşilsu and Necdet Seyitoğlu.
Seyitoğlu, an education consultant, provided a detailed account of his ordeal, which differed slightly from the police report. He described being intercepted by a white SUV while leaving for work, blindfolded, and handcuffed by four armed men. Seyitoğlu claimed he was released after proving his British citizenship and said six other Turkish citizens he knew were abducted in a similar manner from various locations in Nairobi.
A local law firm, Mukele & Kakai, issued a statement representing four of the abducted individuals, stating they were registered refugees and warning airlines against facilitating their deportation. The firm claimed their clients were “victims of political victimisation” in Turkey.
Amnesty International’s Kenya spokesman expressed deep concern over the reported abductions of seven asylum seekers from Turkey on Kenyan soil. The UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, acknowledged awareness of the reports and promised to provide more information as it becomes available.
