Gunmen suspected of belonging to the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group abducted five government officials in northeast Kenya on Monday as they were on their way to work, local leaders were quoted on Monday as saying.

Five government officials were abducted in northeast Kenya by gunmen suspected to be from al Shabaab. This incident, occurring in Mandera county, has heightened concerns about the group's activities in the region,

Suspected Al Shabaab militants have kidnapped at least five chiefs in Mandera County, Northern Kenya, police said. Mandera South Sub-County Police Commander Julius Njeru on Monday said the national government administration officers were travelling to Elwak town for identification card screening.

Regional administrators or chiefs were on their way from Wargadud to Elwak town in Mandera, which borders Somalia and Ethiopia, when they were intercepted and kidnapped, police say - Anadolu Ajansı

Five government officials were abducted by suspected al Shabaab gunmen in northeast Kenya's Mandera County while en route to work. This attack highlights ongoing regional instability as al Shabaab continues its campaign against both Somalia's central government and neighboring Kenya,

They were to meet in the area to plan how to cover a planned visit by President William Ruto to the region this week.

The incident was confirmed by Mandera South police commander Julius Njeru, who said the five chiefs were travelling on official duty before tragedy struck