Father of Garissa attacker fears for his life, goes into hiding

A man whose son has been identified as one of the four terrorists who attacked Garissa University College fears for his life.
Chief Abdullahi Daqare has gone into hiding.
His son, Abdirahim Abdullahi, was named as the mastermind of the attack in which 147 people were killed and 79 injured last Thursday.
Daqare has been advised by security agencies not to speak to the media.
Yesterday, he moved from Al-Hamdu Lodge in Eastleigh’s 12th Street to an undisclosed location in South C.
His phone is switched off.
“He does not want to be seen in public, at least not on the media. This may expose him to danger,” a close friend who sought anonymity told the Star.
The friend said Daqare remains “traumatised” by the involvement of his son in the massacre of at least 142 students.
“He is a very disturbed man. He is in great pain, not only because he lost a son, but also the killing of innocent students,” the source said.
“Although the son was away for months, the news that he was involved in the attack was too devastating for him.”
Daqare, who is Bulla Jamhuri chief in Mandera county, has been gagged by the Interior ministry as his narration may jeopardise ongoing investigations.
His family in Mandera is said to be living in fear of victimisation by security forces and terror groups.
Enquiries to the police by the Star regarding Daqare’s fears and SMSs sent to the Interior ministry spokesperson went unanswered.
It also emerged yesterday that police are looking for the relatives of Abdullahi’s close friend, who is reportedly in Syria fighting alongside Islamic State.
The two are said to have trained together in Somalia before the “friend” crossed into Yemen and then to Syria.
Sources said Abdullahi could not travel as he did not have a passport.