Somalia: Al shabaab militants free Female Aid workers after ransom

BELEDWEYNE, Somalia - The Al Qaeda-linked militant group Al shabaab freed three female humanitarian workers in Hiran region of central Somalia on Tuesday after two months in captivity, Garowe Online reports.

According to a father for one of the aid workers, told GO on condition of anonymity that the militants have set the women free after receiving a ransom payment of $13,000 USD each from their families.

He said the girls working for Hello Trust, a local NGO have been kidnapped at Far-Libah area last July by members of Al-Shabab as they were delivering humanitarian assistance to the drought-hit residents.

In a separate incident, suspected Al Shabaab fighters abducted six local aid workers at Garas Moshin village, located about 20Km south of Baidoa city, the regional capital of Bay province on Monday.

The six who are working for GREDO,  a local relief organization have been attacked and kidnapped at gunpoint as they were carrying out feeding and nutrition programme to people facing starvation in the area.

Negotiations are said to be under way for their release.

Al shabaab is yet to comment on the abduction and release of the humanitarian workers in the drought-stricken regions in southern Somalia, where millions of people are still in dire need of aid.

GAROWEONLINE