Suspects in Hafsa's case released on bond

The suspects accused of kidnapping  Eastleigh businesswoman, Hafsa Mohammed Lukman, have been released on bond. 

However, the Nairobi court that delivered the ruling ordered that the suspects, Hafsa Abdi and Jackson Njogu, should refrain from contacting  witnesses and the complainant to avoid jeopardizing the case.

Both Abdi and Njogu, apprehended by police officers on Sunday, June 27, at a hideout at Crystal View Lodge in Kinangop, had initially pleaded not guilty to the offense. 

Allegedly, they kidnapped and tortured Hafsa Mohammed Lukman at a house in Kayole, Nairobi. 

According to the victim, the kidnap plot was a setup whereby her friend, Abdi led her to the captors. She was rescued on Sunday, June 20. 

Lukman's brother, Zachary Lukman, confirmed the same, saying that the duo approached his sister and put sawdust in her mouth then tied her up.

He stated, "After she (Hafsa) regained consciousness, her friend Abdi was nowhere in sight. Hafsa was tied up in an abandoned house."

The video of Hafsa in the unfortunate predicament surfaced online and brought the incident to light. 

Police officers delved into investigations and managed to trace Hafsa Lukman's last steps to her shop in Eastleigh in the company of Abdi. 

Lukman and her friend Abdi could be seen walking in and out of the business minutes later as per a footage retrieved by the police from Lukman's shop. 

Since both were suspected to be victims of the kidnapping incident, they reported missing by their families. 

After neighbours heard screams coming from a locked house in Kayole and tipped off the police, detectives working on the case rescued the Eastleigh businesswoman.

 

Abdi and Njogu were believed to be part of the scheme and were therefore arrested.