Family bury slain 9 year old daughter, demand for justice

Pupils of Hamar Boarding School in Mogadishu Wednesday morning headed to a cemetery in the outskirts of the city to bury one of their own after a trigger-happy army officer opened fire at their school bus Tuesday afternoon killing nine year old Deeqo Dahir Ali.

Deeqo, a standard one pupil died Tuesday afternoon after a military man reported to have been escorting a senior officer shot at the bus ferrying the students home along Digfer road. Another student was injured as the pupils were left terrified.

The students were heading home from school when the soldier shot at the bus as it negotiated afternoon traffic.

Deeqo’s mother Sophia Mohamed Hoshe told reporters at the cemetery all she wanted was justice for her daughter. “I want those who killed my daughter brought to justice. I urge the leaders of this country to ensure justice for my daughter”

Hamar School deputy head teacher Abdirahman Shakir said justice must prevail for Deeqo noting it was unfortunate that such a young child had to die for no reason.

“We will not accept such painful thing to happen to our young generation and keep on moving as if nothing ever happened,” said Shakir.

Deeqo was in class one and like many others of her age looked forward to pursuing her studies and realizing her life’s dreams. Her school mate whom we could not establish her name by the time of publishing this story is in grade 12. She survived the attack but nursing injuries at a city hospital.

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Police said Wednesday they had arrested three soldiers in connection with the cold murder of Deeqo.

Like Deeqo’s killers, several gun wielding government soldiers and security guards escorting senior government officials and other’ big shots’ in the city have earned the befitting description as kings of the road in Mogadishu.