Woman rewarded $10,000 for averting Al-Shabaab attack in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The government of Somalia has rewarded a woman for her acts of patriotism after she reportedly refused to take in Al-Shabaab's offers to use her house in launching attacks against the Somali National Army, a rare gesture of goodwill from members of the public in the country.

Mama Farhiyo was rewarded for her acts of patriotism by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre who termed her actions as "bravery which should be emulated by all Somalis". The woman prevented a possibly devastating attack at Kahda District within Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

In reference to her heroics, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre delivered $10,000 to her while asking citizens to work closely with government forces in taming the Al-Shabaab militants. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has previously encouraged locals to join the war against the militants.

According to reports, the woman is reported to have refused the militants from hiding in her house to carry out the attacks. Al-Shabaab usually launches attacks from enclosed areas and at times, they drop Improved Explosive Devices in areas highly populated with human population.

The PM also directed the local government there to repair the house of the woman which was destroyed after the militants failed to secure the place. All those who were injured will also be treated on government charge, the PM said, in one of the government's rare gestures of appreciation.

Locals have already said "enough is enough" to the militants, with some now taking arms against the group which is losing significant territories in central and southern Somalia. The local militia has been helping the federal troops and those from foreign nations in weeding Al-Shabaab militants from all fronts.

Statistics by the US Africa Command show that there are close to 7,000 active Al-Shabaab fighters in Somalia but the number may have reduced significantly following the first phase of operations against the group. During the first phase, the government said, over 3,000 militants were killed across the country.

GAROWE ONLINE