Sunday November 9, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Southwest regional security forces have
arrested four suspects accused of participating in the gruesome killing of an
elderly man in Wanlaweyn district, Lower Shabelle region, officials said
Saturday.
Authorities said the victim, who reportedly suffered from
mental illness, was burned to death in the village of Dudumaaye amid a
clan-related dispute. Local officials described the killing as one of the most
horrific acts of violence in recent memory, involving as many as 20
individuals, both armed and unarmed.
“The operations will continue until all perpetrators are
brought to justice,” Wanlaweyn District Commissioner Abdikadir Mohamed
Abdillahi told reporters. “Security forces are still pursuing others believed
to have taken part in the killing.”
A video circulating on social media showing the brutal
killing has sparked widespread outrage across Somalia, with many condemning it
as a shocking display of inhumanity. Community leaders and civil society groups
have called on the Federal Government, the South West administration, and
security agencies to take urgent action to ensure justice for the victim and to
prevent further acts of clan-based violence.
The incident has renewed concerns about the rise of revenge
killings and clan disputes in southern and central Somalia, where weak local
governance, easy access to weapons, and entrenched rivalries have often fueled
cycles of violence.
Human rights advocates are urging authorities to launch a
full investigation, prosecute those responsible, and strengthen community
reconciliation efforts to prevent future atrocities.