Father beheads his daughter in Somalia, police launch manhunt

BAARDHEERE, Somalia — A Somali father beheaded his daughter on Saturday in the town of Baardheere in the Gedo region, local authorities said, launching a search for the suspect who remains at large.

The shocking killing occurred around midday on the outskirts of Baardheere, near the Iftin camp for internally displaced people, according to officials and residents.

The motive behind the beheading was not immediately known, and authorities said an investigation is underway.

Baardheere District Commissioner Adam Mohamed Ahmed Dhagacade confirmed the incident, saying security forces are pursuing the father, who fled after the killing.

“A father indeed beheaded his daughter today,” Dhagacade added. “We were informed that he had taken her in a vehicle, claiming he was taking her to Mogadishu. After reaching the outskirts of the town, he killed her. We cannot yet confirm the reason, but an investigation is ongoing.”

The incident has shocked residents of Baardheere and surrounding areas, the district commissioner said, adding that the suspect would be brought to justice once arrested.

Violent crimes involving family members have raised growing alarm in Somalia in recent years. Two days earlier, authorities reported that a man in the central town of Galdogob allegedly killed his mother and aunt, underscoring concerns about a rise in such attacks across the country.

GAROWE ONLINE