NAIROBI, Feb 22 (NNN-KNA) — Two suspected abductors have been shot dead by Kenyan police who rescued a Canadian national who had been held hostage in a house in Gatundu in Central Province for four days.

The middle-aged man, whose identity police declined to give for security reasons, had been abducted from Gigiri in Nairobi on Tuesday after dropping his child off at school before he was traced to a hideout at Kimunyu village of Gatundu South district.

A combined police force of security officers from Nairobi and Thika stormed the one-storey mansion and gunned down two of the abductors as four others fled. The hostage was rescued from the scene unharmed.

Police recovered an AK 47 rifle with 16 rounds of ammunition after the shootout on Saturday night.

Central Province police officer John M’Mbijiwe, who led the rescue mission, said the gang was demanding 10 million kenyan shillings (131,578 USD) ransom to release the foreigner who was visiting relatives in the city.

Police used tracking devices to locate the Canadian’s whereabouts after a four-day search, he said.

M’Mbijiwe said a search has been launched for the escaped suspects who are said to be members of a criminal gang operating from Nairobi who had been hijacking people for ransom.

Police were following certain leads to track down the escapees, he said, adding: “We are going to ensure that there is no room for such criminals anywhere in the province.”

The identity of the slain suspects was not immediately known.

The owners of the house from which the Canadian was rescued had reportedly died, but one of the sons was occupying it and it was not clear whether he was there.

A woman relative and her children who were staying in a nearby house were told to record a statement with the police.

The hostage was taken away by detectives to an unknown destination. The bodies were removed to the City mortuary. — NNN-KNA

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