Armed forces belonging to the Puntland Darawish militia last night launched an attack on the central base in Garowe, following an attempt to forcefully free two previously detained men. This led to heavy gunfire that lasted for a period around the base and its vicinity.
It has been confirmed that at least one person died in the incident, while two members of the attacking forces were wounded and taken to Garowe General Hospital for treatment.
The incident is said to be rooted in an operation conducted by Garowe police in the city, during which two suspects were arrested and one man was injured. This subsequently led to forces from the Darawish militia attacking the base in an attempt to release the detained men.
The Governor of the Nugaal region, Abdirahman Haji Abshir, provided details about last night’s clash at Garowe’s central base.
The Governor, holding a press conference at the regional police command headquarters, stated that the attack was carried out by forces from the Puntland Darawish militia and resulted in the death of one soldier and injuries to three other Darawish members.
Governor Abdirahman noted that the casualties from the incident were limited considering the volume of gunfire and the confrontation that took place. He explained that the disturbance arose from a security operation aimed at arresting suspected soldiers from the Puntland Darawish militia.
The Governor of the Nugaal region stated that the security situation in Garowe is now calm, and the forces that launched the attack have returned to their positions. Investigations have been initiated into the incident to determine the official causes and those behind it.