BAYDHABO (KAAB TV) – At least 12 people were killed in a roadside explosion in the Sariitow village area near Awdiinle town, west of Baidoa, Somalia, on Friday.
The explosion targeted a pickup truck used by security forces, leaving at least nine others injured.
The militant group al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Among the casualties were 12 soldiers, including two officers. One of the officers was Somow, the deputy commander of the Darawish militia in Bardale district, and the other was Ibrahim Ali Adan, known as Ibrahim Rakow, who was the head of finance for the South West administration in the area.
The South West State authorities have not commented on the attack, which highlights the ongoing threat posed by al-Shabaab in the region.
Many cities in South West State remain under al-Shabaab siege, making road movement difficult and dangerous.
Ethiopian forces under the African Union have been the primary security providers in the region.