A British national has reported that he and several Turkish citizens were kidnapped in Nairobi, Kenya, by masked men on Friday, leaving four Turkish individuals still unaccounted for.
Necdet Seyitoğlu, who had lived in the UK for 18 years before relocating to Kenya two years ago, was released after eight hours when he revealed his British passport to his captors, according to statements he made.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed that they are providing consular support to the affected British citizen and his family in response to the incident.
Kenyan police have opened an investigation into what they classify as a “kidnapping incident,” triggered by a motorcycle driver who observed the abduction.
Details of the alarming event indicate that two vehicles blocked a silver saloon car containing two individuals. According to police spokesperson Resila Onyango, “About eight persons armed with weapons emerged from the two vehicles, pulled out the two occupants and drove off with them.”
One victim, identified as Yusuf Kar, reached out to a nearby police station and confirmed the identities of those kidnapped as Hüseyin Yeşilsu and Necdet Seyitoğlu.
Turkish officials have yet to release a statement regarding the incident.
Mr. Seyitoğlu, an education consultant, has recounted the harrowing details of his ordeal, which diverge from the official police narrative. He stated that a white SUV intercepted his vehicle while he and a friend were en route to work at approximately 7:30 AM local time.
The pair were blindfolded and handcuffed by four armed assailants and taken to an undisclosed location. Mr. Seyitoğlu recounted that they made repeated inquiries about their situation but received no responses from their captors.
Describing the event as “the worst experience of my life,” Mr. Seyitoğlu eventually managed to prove his British citizenship by showing his passport on his phone. He noted that following a phone call to his captors, which seemed to relay instructions for his release, the masked men who communicated in Swahili dropped him off in an unfamiliar location. They provided him with 1,000 shillings (£6) for transport but withheld his phone and laptop.
During this distressing period, Mr. Seyitoğlu’s wife reported him missing to the authorities, which prompted outreach to the British High Commission. He indicated that six other Turkish citizens he knew were also abducted in similar circumstances across Nairobi.
A local law firm stated that it is representing four men who are recognized refugees and cautioned airlines against facilitating their deportation. Their letter claims, “Our clients were abducted in Kenya with the aim of being deported back to Turkey where they are victims of political victimization.”
This statement was further supported by the organization Amnesty International, which expressed deep concern over reports of the abduction of seven asylum seekers from Turkey within Kenyan territory. The UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, acknowledged awareness of the situation and promised to provide updates as more information becomes available.
