A young officer of the Somali National Army, Abdullahi Abdirahman, widely known as Sandhiiqo, was killed in a landmine explosion in the area known as Number 50 in the Lower Shabelle region, South West State.
The officer was among a group of young soldiers trained at the TURKSOM military training camp in Mogadishu. Reports indicate that the landmine struck him in the field, causing injuries from which he later died after a short period, according to various sources.
In recent days, the officer had been actively involved in security operations aimed at stabilizing the main road connecting Afgoye and Marka. He also held coordination meetings with Federal Government forces, local security units, and African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) troops to strengthen security in the area.
So far, no official statement has been released by the Federal Government of Somalia or the South West State administration regarding the details of the explosion that claimed the officer’s life. Meanwhile, government forces have launched security operations in areas surrounding Number 50.