Bani Dhabyan tribesmen kidnap Yemeni businessman

Bani Dhabian area is very mountainous and sometimes hard for security to reach the hideout of kidnappers. The tribe is notorious for kidnapping foreigners and Yemenis.

YEMEN - An armed group from the tribe of Bani Dhabyan in Khawlan district close to Sana’a, kidnapped 30 year old Abdul-Malik al-Khamiri, Vice Chairman of the Yemeni Company for Hotels and Investment on Sunday afternoon. The kidnapped man is the brother of well-known businessman Tawfiq al-Khamiri.

"The armed group numbered around 20, driving five cars and all wearing military uniforms, some of them with ranks. They attacked my uncle and his driver and kidnapped him in broad daylight in the Hadda zone on 50th street. He was then taken to unknown location," Mohammed al-Khamiri, nephew of the kidnapped man told the Yemen Observer on the phone.

Tawfiq, the brother of the victim, said that their guards managed to capture one of the five cars, holding the state responsible for the safety of his brother. “How could my brother be kidnapped from the center of the capital in a country that spends millions on security checkpoints, forbids carrying weapons, and speaks about investment?”

He denied any dealing with Bani Dhabyan, ensuring that, “Any disputes will be resolved in the courts,” adding that the kidnappers are exploiting their knowledge of the state’s negligence and they kidnap to gain money. “Tribe members from Bani Dhabyan kidnapped 11 persons before and the state didn’t take them seriously enough.”

Bani Dhabyan District’s General Director told News Yemen that the kidnappers are Ali Toaiman, Ahmed Mujidi’ Salmin, and Abdullah Ahmed Najran, from al-Salem of Bani Dhabyan in Sana’a governorate, adding that the security committee will meet this evening to evaluate the situation. He said, “We refuse any mediation with the kidnappers.”

Ali Seraj, a Bani Dhabyan Chief, and the one who kidnapped the Dutch couple three months ago said that the kidnappers went to al-Haql area in Bani Dhabyan. He said that he contacted them to inquire about the reasons behind the kidnapping. He said that the kidnappers are protesting the killing of one of their relatives in a fight with security forces and one of their tribal groups during a previous kidnapping attempt on one of al- Khamiri’s family. Two kidnapping attempts against Nabil, the other brother of Tawfiq failed two years ago and another child who was mistaken to be of al-Khamiri family was kidnapped and later released.

Ali Seraj told News Yemen of his intention to carry out a new kidnapping because he alleged that, “The mediation committee who recovered the Dutch hostages agreed to give a ransom of YER 56 million for the hostages release, but those who are responsible for the payment of the check did not comply with their commitments.

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