Councillor gunned down in Galkaayo

Unidentified armed men have shot dead a Councillor in North of Galkaayo town in the semi-autonomous regional state of Puntland, the latest in a string of assassinations of politicians in the country.

Saeed Hayle was shot dead in Garsoor neighbourhood as he heading to his home.

Hayle will be the second government official to have been assassinated in the town in 2016.

Security forces have arrived the scene and launched an operation to hunt down the perpetrators.

No one has claimed the responsibility of the assault but Alshabab Amniyat branch is notorious for carrying out the systemic spate of killings against Federal government officers in the district.

Al-Shabab rebels are fighting to overthrow the country’s internationally-backed government.