HARGEISA, Somalia Feb 19 2013 (Garowe Online) – Deputy Chairman
of the ruling political party stated that Somaliland has apprehended the most
terrorists operating in Somalia, days after opposition party chairman Faisal
Ali Warabe’s son was arrested on terrorism charges, Garowe Online reports.
Following an arrest of 2 alleged terrorists in Las’anod, Mohamed
Kahin Ahmed deputy chairman of Kulmiye party – ruling party in Somaliland – stated
that Somaliland has arrested the highest number of terrorists compared to the
rest of Somalia.
“The majority of terrorists that have carried out of operations
[in Somalia] were arrested
by Somaliland authorities,” said deputy chairman Mohamed to Somaliland
media.
A high ranking official in the Puntland intelligence agency
who requested anonymity told GO that this is one of the first high profile arrests
of alleged terrorists that Somaliland has done.
UCID - Somaliland’s opposition party – Chairman, Faisal Ali
Warabe’s son and a woman were arrested on terrorism charges on Sunday after Somaliland authorities found out that he had fled Hargeisa.
The two were captured in Las’anod, capital of Sool region.
After acknowledging that his son was arrested on Sunday,
Chairman Warabe shied away from media after the high profile arrest. Somaliland authorities have also kept quiet on the arrest
of the chairman’s son.
Somaliland’s Sool region deputy
police chief Abdullahi Saeed Guled told media that police in Las’anod
apprehended 2 men, alleged to have a connection in the murder of prominent
Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abdiqadir Nur Farah who was killed in Garowe as he was
praying in a mosque.
“We arrested two men who left from a village near Garowe. One
of the men took part in the murder of Sheikh Abdiqadir and the other was abetting
him,” said Abdullahi.
Sources in the Puntland security sector, have told GO that
the arrest of the two men in Las’anod has come after the captured killer of
Sheikh Abdiqadir – who was caught by citizens after shooting the Sheikh –
provided information to Puntland authorities.
The source said that the investigation of the killing of the
Sheikh has led to many arrests but Puntland authorities have denied commenting
on the investigation at this time.
The Puntland government has repeatedly asked for more
cooperation and coordination on Somaliland’s
part in counter-terrorism operations.
“Hopefully the Somaliland
government is starting to recognize that coordination with security efforts with
Puntland are very much need to ensure the safety of our citizens,” said Presidential
spokes man Ahmed Omar Hersi.
GAROWE ONLINE
