Suspected IS kidnap nine people in northern Somalia

Suspected Islamic State fighters in Somalia have taken hostage nine passenger after waylaying a passenger vehicle en route to Bossaso town in Northern Somalia.

The vehicle was stopped at at Maregale, located about 28 kilometers away from the port town of Qandala, according to Puntland officials.

Qandala district commissioner, Shilin Mohamed Quurshe said Somalia’s IS fighters laid an ambush on a a vehicle transporting 18 passengers to Bossaso town.

He said Puntland soldiers are among the people kidnapped by ISIL fighters.

In late November, Puntland recaptured the ancient town of Qandala, from the pro-daesh Somali militant group.

The pro-IS militants captured Qandala in November last, marking the first major assault by the group which is trying to make its foothold on the Horn of Africa country.

Led by Abdulkadir Mumin, a preacher formerly based in Britain, the pro-IS group split from Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaida-linked Islamist group that has been battling the Somali government for a decade in October 2015.

Qandala is located in Somalia’s northern region of Barri and it is an ancient city which has been under control of Daesh since October this year.