Somalia: Security forces arrest three in Baidoa over elder's murder

BAIDOA, Somalia - Southwest state forces have carried out an operation in Baidoa town, seizing three people in connection with the murder of an electoral delegate on Friday night, Garowe Online reports.

The local officials accuse the detained suspects of killing Sheikh Mohamed Dayr, a prominent elder who was involved in the recent electoral process of the country’s Federal MPs from Southwest administration.

They said two killers had been captured on Saturday morning, during the operation by the regional forces, which came after a tip-off from the third accomplice.

The late elder was shot dead outside a mosque in the southern town on Friday evening by two men armed with pistols, who managed to immediately escape the scene before the arrival of Police officers.

The suspects convicted of having links to al-Shabaab group and current being interrogated at a Police custody, and expected to appear before the court in the coming periods to face the murder charges. 

Southwest authorities vowed to continue operations aimed at beefing up security and detaining armed groups planning to carry out killings in Baidoa, located about 250 Km southwest of Somali capital Mogadishu. 

In the past few months, the al -Qaida-linked al-Shabaab militants have intensified targeted assassinations against the traditional elders for voting the lawmakers of current serving Somalia’s Federal Parliament. 

GAROWEONLINE