Gunmen killed prominent businessman Hassan Haji Dahir on Wednesday night in the Howlwadaag neighborhood of Beledweyne town.
Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants swiftly fled the scene before security forces could arrive, leaving behind a trail of questions and uncertainty.
The motive behind this cold-blooded murder is still shrouded in mystery, as no group has come forward to claim responsibility for the heinous act.
However, it is no secret that the group al-Shabab has a history of carrying out such attacks, targeting both businesspeople and government officials alike.
Hassan Haji Dahir, affectionately known as Hassan Nigeria, was a well-respected figure in the community and had recently been overseeing renovation work at the Warabole dam, one of the Beledweyne dam sites. This particular dam plays a vital role in protecting the town from the devastating floods caused by the Shabelle River.
The town of Beledweyne, situated in central Somalia, has faced the wrath of nature’s fury in recent times. Last May, catastrophic floods wreaked havoc, displacing nearly a quarter of a million people as the Shabelle River breached its banks, engulfing the town in turbulent waters.
The Somali Disaster Management Agency reported that Beledweyne alone witnessed the displacement of over 245,000 individuals, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair.