Al-Shabaab scare: Deni says prison raids happen everywhere in globe

GAROWE, Puntland - In this era, at times it's easy to break from prison solely to enjoy freedom, even for the hardcore criminals, but maybe not in Guantanamo incarceration center, somewhere in Cuba, where the world's most notorious terrorists are now being held.

Whether in the third world or even in most advanced states with sophisticated systems, criminals can come with clandestine plans which they use to escape from detention centers, and no country is spared from such a menace.

And this could have informed Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni's today's speech in Bosaaso, just near the Gulf of Aden coastline, where Al-Shabaab stormed the city's biggest prison, managing to free hundreds of fighters and dozens of criminals who were serving various sentences.

While issuing a stern warning to the criminals, Deni, the 6th president of Puntland, said such breaks to prisons are synonymous around the world, and thus, the Bosaso incident cannot be treated in isolation. The facilitators, he added, will be held liable.

“It is a painful incident that is not limited to Puntland, it happens anywhere in the world. There have been many failed attempts and similar ones, and I thank the Puntland troops for their bravery in ending the attack in a short time," noted Deni.

The president added: “Of course there were casualties, the attackers managed to set free some prisoners from jail, who were chased, and some were killed, and some were captured alive."

And to restore order in the region, Deni noted, Puntland troops had started an operation that will target the Al-Shabaab militants. He confirmed the ongoing operations in the outskirts of Bosaaso, where the troops are keen to eliminate the militants.

“An investigation has begun, whoever is found to have facilitated it will face the most severe punishment it deserves," the president underlined. He called on the public to co-operate with the security forces and help prevent acts of instability, including terrorist attacks.

"I tell the people of Bosaso to sleep in peace, to work in peace, to live in peace. They have confidence in their troops and leaders,” he said. He urged various Puntland officials to be extra vigilant and "stay alert to the possibility of attacks".

Intelligence reports ignored

The president's speech may however raise serious questions given that a senior retired Danab commander sensationally claimed that he had tipped Puntland authorities over the impending attack in Bosaaso, slightly over seven months ago.

Abdirahman Omar Jeeni-Qaar, a former commander with the elite troops, claimed he had informed Puntland authorities about the impending Bosaso prison raid, but unfortunately "the intelligence reports were not taken seriously".

The former soldier who also worked with intelligence officials said he got hold of the intelligence reports in September 2020 and shared them with top security officials in Puntland. However, it's not clear whether or not measures were undertaken to salvage the situation.

Danab troops have been playing an integral role in the elimination of Al-Shabaab from across the country in a couple of years now. They are trained and equipped by the US Africa Command, most of them who left the country in January 2020.

Reports indicate that the militants raided the main prison on Thursday midnight and managed to free prisoners, with officials saying that they targeted hundreds of people who were being held for terrorism charges. The Al-Shabaab group claimed that they had freed over 400 inmates.

But in response to the attack, Puntland security forces on Friday held a number of operations in the outskirts of Bosaso killing over 20 militants. Reports indicate that four militants were captured alive as the forces also managed to recapture several prisoners who had escaped.

GAROWE ONLINE