Al Shabaab has for long been terrorizing Somali inhabitants in efforts to establish governance. However, now and then, they are met with resistance from the country. Al Shabaab has managed to even attract foreign aid’s attention in a bid to stop them from causing more harm to humanity. The struggle continues. As a result, the Al Shabaab group on Friday made a planned raid on a Somali jail in Bosaso. They ended up freeing a number of prisoners and even getting away with the murder of several soldiers. The jail geographically places itself in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland.
Al Shabaab claims responsibility.
Apart from admitting to raiding the jail, the Islamist group claims to have given the freedom to about 400 prisoners. The group further confirms that most of the freed members were their counterparts. The prison, which is in Bosaso, accounts for the main prison in this Puntland region. Bosaso is also the largest city in Puntland.
Somali jail raid
According to one of the prison guards, Mohamed Abdi, the attack took place at night. The insurgents were well armed for the occasion, which caught the guards without aware. Despite the guards’ efforts to try and lock out the group, they still managed to get through. Apparently, they had explosives which they used to storm through into the gates. Mohamed further narrates how they managed to get away with most of the prisoners.
In the fight, five soldiers were killed. Two more who were sent to give back up to the guards were set ablaze in the car which they were in. The authorities further disregard the information from the al Shabaab claims that they freed at least 400 prisoners. The group is known to give exaggerated figures in such matters.
Authorities on the Somali jail raid
According to the Bosaso Police commander, Col. Hussein Ali, an operation to recover the prisoners is underway. The prisoners, both men, and women were serving a 10-year jail term. This move from Al Shabaab is not far from the common raids they carry out to shake the government. However, the country will not stop fighting the group and providing safety to its people.
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