Reports say that vehicles whereby passengers onboard on Sunday were abducted while travelling in Middle Shabelle province after armed militias ambushed them. The vehicles left from Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital and were on their way to Galkayo. Reports further say that the vehicles whereby the passengers were onboard were abducted exactly in an area nearby Wargaadhi settlement in Middle Shabelle province.
The Chairman of the Committee of the transportation that travel to Galkayo town, Mohamed Dahir Cirbeere who gave an interview to Shabelle TV, said that the vehicles that were kidnapped are 7 in number. He further revealed that there were 130 passengers on board of the vehicles. He disclosed that vehicles and the passengers were taken to Nuur Dugle settlement while the armed militias held the passengers in hostage.
He said: “ All vehicles that left Mogadishu to day have been abducted by armed militias who are disguising as gov’t troops. They kidnapped the passengers and the vehicles in between Wargaadhi and Cad-Cadey settlements. They kidnapped seven vehicles. They took the vehicles while the passengers were onboard to Nuur Dugle settlement.”
He added that there were 130 passengers on board of the vehicles including elderly, children and sick individuals. He stated in his interview that the abduction is a retaliatory one and is linked to a previous abduction that took place in Matabaan district in Hiiraan region. He sent a clear message to the Presidents of Somalia and Hirshabelle and urged them to rescue the passengers in which the armed militias are held hostage.
Hostility in Middle shabelle province escalated after two civilians named Fanah Ma’alin Habeeb abd Muhyadin Araale were killed by armed assailants yesterday in a settlement that is nearby Adale district. The two civilians killed, one was working for a local telecommunication company while the other was working in a well in the settlement.
