MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – Somali journalist Abduqadir Mohamed Nur, known as Jakarta, who was forcibly taken from his home in Mogadishu’s Boondheere district by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) on the morning of October 18, has been released on the condition that he refrains from speaking to the media.
Jakarta, a journalist with Risaala Media, was abducted in a 3:00 a.m. raid while sleeping with his family.
New details reveal that two armed men entered Jakarta’s home, handcuffed him, and escorted him to a Toyota 4WD pick up truck, where additional NISA agents armed with machine guns waited.
According to the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), of which Jakarta is a member, witnesses identified the men as NISA officers responsible for his abduction.
Jakarta described being detained in the vehicle until around 6:00 a.m., handcuffed and repeatedly threatened with violence.
His phone was confiscated during the raid. He was later taken to the notorious Godka Jila’ow prison by NISA officer Mohamed Abdukadir Shakiib, a former al-Shabaab’s amniyat operative who now works within the intelligence agency.
Shakiib, who has previously led raids on journalist offices, reportedly subjected Jakarta to harsh interrogation and threats of beatings and death.
SJS Secretary General Abdalle Mumin condemned Jakarta’s treatment, stating, “NISA is using former al-Shabaab operatives like Shakiib to intimidate journalists. In Jakarta’s case, they repeatedly interrogated him about Risaala’s critical coverage of the Mogadishu authorities and the administration.”
Risaala Media Corporation, known for its independent reporting on Somali security forces and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration, has had multiple staff members detained in recent years.
By Friday afternoon, news of Jakarta’s abduction spread widely, pressuring NISA to release him under a condition that he remain silent about the incident.
Mumin denounced the imposed gag order, calling it “unacceptable for authorities to kidnap a journalist, terrorize him in front of his family, and then enforce silence as a condition for his release. This is pure intimidation.”
Risaala Media’s general director, Mohamed Abduwahab, also condemned the abduction, calling for an end to such actions against journalists.
“The management of Risaala Media condemns the abduction and unlawful actions taken against journalist Abduqadir Mohamed Nur (known as Jakarta),” Mr. Abduwahab said.