GALKAYO, Somalia May 2 2012 (Garowe Online) – A journalist was gunned down Wednesday evening as he was walking in a neighborhood in Galkayo’s west side,  marking the second journalist killing in Puntland in less than two months, Radio Garowe reports.

Witnesses said the victim, Farhan Abdulle, was approached by unknown gunmen while he was walking along Garsoor neighborhood. Witnesses who found the dead body said the victim ran towards center of town and the main tarmac road.

The victim suffered 4 bullet wounds to the back and one bullet wound in the hand.

Puntland police arrived at the scene shortly afterwards and told media that they are investigating the killing. Farhan Abdullahi was a reporter for independent Radio Daljir for over 6 and was married with three children, the journalist's friends said.

The victim died a day before the annual commemoration of World Press Freedom Day. An event to honor this day was held in Galkayo by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and its chairman, Mr. Burhan Dahir.

Many organizations like NUSOJ have raised awareness about the targeting of journalists working in Somalia. This is the fifth journalist to be killed in Somalia and second in Galkayo.

Farhan Abdulle is the second journalist to be killed in Galkayo in less than two months. On March 4, 2012, a journalist working for Radio Galkayo was gunned down by uknown gunmen.

In Mogadishu, director of independent Radio Shabelle was killed by uknown gunmen on January 29, 2012.

On April 6, 2012, another journalist was killed in Beledweyne, in central Somalia. This year has been a deadly year for Somali journalists so far.

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GAROWE ONLINE