QORYOLEY, Somalia (KAAB TV) – The commander of a local armed militia, Osman Ali Jiis, and two of his bodyguards were gunned down in Qoryoley, a town in Lower Shabelle province on Monday, locals confirmed.
The identities of the attackers remain unknown, and it is unclear who conducted the armed assault.
Qoryoley, a town approximately 120km from Mogadishu, is in the agriculturally rich Lower Shabelle region.
Local security officers reported that gunmen specifically targeted Commander Jiis and his guards.
This incident adds to the ongoing tension in Qoryoley, a town plagued by repeated clan-based clashes.
The area has seen frequent gunfights and retaliatory killings between two rival clans.
Osman Jiis belonged to one of the clans involved in these armed conflicts.
The escalating violence has left residents increasingly worried about the town’s security situation.
In addition to clan fighting, there are concerns about attacks from the terror group Al-Shabaab.
So far, the South West State administration has not released an official statement regarding the killings.
The community continues to grapple with the fear and uncertainty brought by the persistent instability.