A police officer and a bajaj (three-wheeled motor vehicle) driver lost their lives in a traffic accident that occurred last night in central Garowe in Puntland state.
According to initial reports, the accident happened around 11:00 PM when a vehicle driven by a member of the Puntland presidential guard reportedly struck the bajaj. The officer driving the car is said to be a close relative of the Puntland President.
The deceased officer, Abdirahman Yusuf Ahmed, was recently recruited into the police force.
Authorities reported that the driver responsible for the accident was allegedly under the influence of drugs and was armed at the time. Following the collision, he attempted to flee and resisted police intervention, sustaining minor injuries before being apprehended.
The Puntland CID (Criminal Investigation Department) has launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.
While reforms have been implemented within the police force to curb security-related incidents, drug use among some security personnel continues to pose a risk, contributing to a rise in similar accidents across Puntland.
