Pirates equipped with automatic guns attacked the Galkayo central station in a bid to forcefully free fellow pirates who were apprehended in a raid by Puntland security forces that netted over 40 people related to insecurity in the region.

Puntland forces repelled the attack wounding two of the pirates who along with others were captured while a few fled the scene after failing to break free their comrades.

Governor of Mudug region, Mohamed Yusuf Tigey and Mayor of Galkayo, Saeed Abdi Farah held a press conference in Galkayo on Monday about the attack on the central jail station on Sunday.

The two officials said that one of the pirates, who were captured in Sunday’s attack, was one of the kidnappers of the three aid workers who were kidnapped near the town of Ba’adweyn last month.

Governor Tigey gave a stark warning to pirates and their supporters, to either quit their lives as pirates and financiers or be subject to arrest and detention.

Puntland have increased security in the capital of Mudug region, Galkayo, after a string of attacks and kidnapping have occurred in and around the city.

The security efforts amounted in over 40 arrests that included alleged Al Shabaab agents, pirates and financiers.