Reports from Mogadishu say that the Somali Federal Gov’t has launched an investigation into the killing of the Commander of 14-October Battalion, Brigadier General “Nuur Farey” who was assassinated in the outskirts of Afgoye town in Middle Shabelle Province yesterday. Reports say that the body of the Commander and the body of the soldier who assassinated the Commander were taken to the capital Mogadishu to conduct further investigations before they are buried. The Commander was killed in Abdow Dibile which is under Afgoye administration. He was delivering a speech to the units of the Somali National Army (SNA) who were preparing to conduct operations against the militant group of Al-Shabab. The Commander was injured after the suspected Al-Shabab operative who disguised as Somali soldier opened fire. The suspected Al-Shabab operative was dressed in Somali military uniform. The Commander succumbed to the injuries and died on the spot.
Commander Farey was urging the soldiers to speed up the operations against the militant group of Al-Shabab and further warned not to abandon their positions in the frontlines whatever happen to them. The bodyguards of the Commander were quoted that the Commander told the soldiers that they face punishments if they flee the frontlines while they are fighting against the enemy. The Commander’s bodyguards killed the suspected Al-Shabab operative on the spot. Reports cannot confirm that whether the assassin was suspected Al-Shabab member or not. Officers from the Somali gov’t reached the place where the Commander was killed in order to get answers for questions pertaining to the motive of his killing and arrest those who are in connection to the murder and those that have facilitated the assassination of the Commander.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the assassin was not a member of the 14-October Battalion that are stationed in Middle Shabelle province. It is not also confirmed that he is not a member of Somali National Army (SNA). Reports further confirm that he is not a member of the registered soldiers in the Somali Ministry of Defense. Investigation underway will prove if the assassin is a member of the militant group of Al-Shabab. The investigation will further clarify if the assassin was on a mission that the Somali army will not return to Awddheegle, Sabiid and Caanoole where Al-Shabab militants take over.
It is not yet clear who facilitated the assassin to infiltrate the units of 14-October Battalion and those who aided and abetted to disguise as Somali soldier. The Somali Military Commanders say that the matter will be thoroughly investigated. Commander Nuur Farey was a playing a pivotal role when it comes to the war that the Somali Gov’t is engaged with Al-Shabab militants in order to flush them out of the country. His death would impact the Somali military commanders who are leading the war against Al-Shabab. Lawmaker Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, a member of Somali Parliament said that the killing of Brigadier Farey is a new tactic that the enemy has employed.
MP Abdirahman said: ” Killing is part of the war. The killing of Commander Nur Farey is a new tactic that the enemy employed. We should confront it wisely and carefully. The reason is that victory in the war lies knowing the enemy’s killing tactic.” He sent condolences to his family, friends and the Somali army. The Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said that the government is currently launching a comprehensive probe into the matter. He said that the attack is an act of terrorism. If investigations prove that the assassin was Al-Shabab operative, the Somali Military Command will check and vet Somali soldiers.
