Businessman killed in mosque built by family in Mogadishu

A middle aged businessman was killed Sunday evening in a mosque built and supported by his family for many years.

The man identified as Sade Mahad Dirir was shot dead after gunmen entered a mosque in Hilwaq district in Mogadishu and opened fire killing him instantly immediately after the evening prayers

Witnesses say the man was reciting Quran verses when three men armed with pistols stormed the mosque ad went directly to where he was before killing him.

Mohamed Irbad who said Dirir was his close friend also confirmed the incident saying his close friend had been murdered inside mosque.

“He has been brutally killed inside a mosque while reading Quran after the Isha prayer. It hurts me to think that you are not here anymore,” said in a Faceboook post. Goobjoog News sought verification with him following the post.

Dirir was a also a masters student in Somali University, a student who refused to be named confirmed to Goobjoog News.

Sources indicate Dirir’s family built and maintained the mosque for many years. Others indicate his family also owned a number of office blocks in Mogadishu which are rented out to the government.

It was not immediately clear what the motive of the killing was.