Somalia: Gunmen kill senior military officer in El Wak town

EL WAK, Somalia- Suspected al-Shabaab gunmen killed a senior military officer in the border town of El Wak town, near the Somalia’s border with Kenya on Saturday, Garowe Online reports.

A local Police official has confirmed to GO the killing of Col Abdirashid Barre Gurhan, by two pistol-wielding men who immediately fled the scene before the arrival of security forces.

Late Gurhan was a leading commander in charge of government forces in the border town. His murder was the latest in armed assaults targeting the civil servants, government officials and security personnel.

The official who spoke on a condition of anonymity said they are conducting an operation in the town, and pursuing the killers of the officer. However, no one was arrested for the incident. 

"The Police and security forces reached the scene later to investigate and pursue the militants. It is difficult to prevent death- the officer had no guards with him when he was killed,” he added. 

Meanwhile, the militant group al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the killing of the military officer through a statement posted on its affiliated online media outlets. 

El Wak, which is a strategic town in Gedo region, located near the porous Kenya border, is also a main supply route for Kenyan troops of AMISOM contingent, operating in southwestern Somalia.

Al-Shabaab lost the town in 2011 to Somali and Kenyan troops following an offensive that pushed the militants out of their main strongholds in Lower Jubba and Gedo regions. 

GAROWEONLINE