Somalia: Police apprehend elder's killers in Beledweyne

BALADWEYNE, Somalia: Police apprehend suspects after elder killed BELEDWEYNE, Somalia -Security forces in Hiran regional capital of Beledweyne  have arrested eight people in connection with the murder of a traditional elder on Thurs, Garowe online reports.  

Confirming the incident, Beledweyne Mayor Mohamed Abdi Khalafow told local media that the security forces detained people  suspected of being behind the killing of the elder. "Somali government forces have launched an operation in Howl-Wadag neighborhood where Abey Aden, one of Hiiran elders was shot dead on Wednesday afternoon by gunmen," Khalafow said.

He added that the apprehended suspects are currently held at a police station, where they are being interrogated over the murder. So far, nobody has claimed credit for the elder's murder, but local administration has blamed Al Shabaab for carrying out the assassination. The elder was shot and killed in Howlwadag neighborhood by two pistol-wielding thought to be Al Shabaab members who escaped from the scene before police arrived.

Unconfirmed reports say, the slain elder has taken part ( in) an army offensive on Luq-Jelow, an Al Shabaab stronghold which is located in the western outskirts of Beledweyne.

GAROWEONLINE