MOGADISHU (KAAB TV) – Hormuud Telecom, the largest telecom and financial services provider in Somalia, reported that armed men wearing Somali government uniforms forcibly entered one of its offices in Mogadishu today, attempting to force a kidnapped woman to withdraw money.
In a statement, the company revealed that a gunfight erupted between the company’s security guards and the gunmen, resulting in the death of at least one of the attackers.
“Two men in military uniforms arrived at the Hormuud Telecom office, intending to withdraw money using a phone number they did not own. One of the men entered the office while the other waited outside on a motorcycle (bajaj),” Hormuud Telecom stated.
The company explained that its staff realized the individual attempting to withdraw money did not own the phone number linked to the account and refused the transaction.
“Shortly after, the gunmen brought in a woman who reported to the staff that she was abducted. A confrontation followed, and the armed men opened fire, sparking a gunfight with the security guards. One gunman was shot dead, while the other managed to flee,” the company stated.
Hormuud Telecom says they immediately informed the Somali Police Force, providing all relevant information. An investigation is currently underway to uncover further details of the incident.
In Mogadishu, there has been a surge in violent robberies targeting civilians, often carried out by men in government uniforms.
Security experts attribute the rise in violence to worsening living conditions due to inflation, with many armed men, including former militia fighters from the Macawisley group, returning to the city in search of means to survive.
The Mogadishu police have yet to comment on the incident.