Al-Shabaab hijacks vehicles transporting Khat with 8 occupants in Dhobley still missing

The whereabouts of Eight people and two vehicles hijacked by suspected Al-Shabaab militiamen near Dhobley on Thursday remained unknown.

The attackers who were said to be armed intercepted the two minibuses  which were transporting miraa between Dhobley and Afmadow towns in Lower Jubba region  at around 8.30am.

They also took off with the 8 occupants of both vehicles which were transporting miraa to Afmadow town.

A village elder said the two vehicles passed Qoqani village at around 09:30am only to be intercepted by the gunmen about six kilometres from the town.

Dhobley administration said the vehicles were travelling to Afmadow and that they were hijacked near the spot where a gang hijacked.

“They hijacked two minibuses between Dhobley town and Afmadow at around 9.30am Thursday. They were ferrying miraa” said  government officer who declined to be named. “There were five people in one vehicle and three others in the other.

He added, “After hijacking them, the goons discarded the miraa before disappearing with the occupants of the two vehicles whom they took hostage.”

He said combined forces consisting of Jubbaland and SNA forces  had already launched investigations to rescue those kidnapped and also arrest the captors and find out the real motive behind the incident.

The officer appealed to the public to cooperate with police and report any person or incident which poses a threat to security.

“We are yet to know the whereabouts of the five people. The captors ran towards Buaale town. We suspect these people could have been taken to Buaale,”