Former Shabaab defector kills policeman, escapes with gun in Belet-Hawo

A former Al-Shabaab militant who defected to government in February and was later posted as a local administration security official Tuesday killed a police officer and escaped with his gun in Belet-Hawo in southwestern Somalia.

The man, identified as Abdi Yare Hassan was the head of Al-Shabaab operations in Bardhere and Saakow areas before handing himself in to authorities in February. Goobjoog News correspondent in Bardhere region said the man had been taken to Kismayu and later transferred to Belet Hawo to serve as a security officer.

The official is said to have gone out with a police officer for patrol Tuesday night and later in the night killed him and went away with his AK 47. Sources told Goobjoog News the Hassan rejoined Al-Shabaab fighters whom he had linked up with ahead of last night’s incident.

There have been demonstrations in Belet-Hawo as locals accuse the man who is said to have stood for and recommended Hassan for the position.

GOOBJOOG NEWS