Al-Shabaab militants have abducted at least three civilians, including a mother and her daughter, in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region after accusing them of spying for government forces, local sources said.
The kidnappings took place in the Warciise area of Middle Shabelle province in recent hours, according to residents and local sources who spoke to local media.
The victims were taken by armed militants into rural areas where the Al-Shabaab group maintains hideouts, the sources said.
Al-Shabaab accused the civilians of providing information to Somali government forces ahead of a recent airstrike in the Warciise area, according to the sources.
The reported strike targeted positions used by the militant group and killed several senior Al-Shabaab commanders and fighters, according to Somali security authorities.
Among those reported killed was Ahmed Ali Jimcaale, described by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency as one of the group’s senior commanders in Jowhar district.
Another commander, Geedi Mohamed Nur Adde, who was said to oversee Al-Shabaab activities in the Dumaaye and Dabagaalo areas, was also reported killed in the operation.
There was no immediate independent confirmation of the identities of those killed or of the circumstances surrounding the reported airstrike.
The latest kidnappings have heightened concerns among residents in Middle Shabelle, where government forces and clan-based Macawisley militia have been conducting operations against Al-Shabaab.
The Macawisley fighters have called on the federal government to provide greater military support for their campaign against the militants.
"We ask the Somali government to stand with us and take part in the operation," a Macawisley officer in Middle Shabelle told local media.
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The officer described the campaign as an effort to rid the population of Al-Shabaab militants.
Macawisley forces have carried out several operations in the region in recent days, targeting areas and facilities believed to be used by Al-Shabaab, according to local sources.
Middle Shabelle remains one of the areas where Al-Shabaab retains a significant presence despite sustained military operations by Somali government forces and their allies.
The Islamist militant group has waged an insurgency against Somalia's federal government for more than 15 years, carrying out attacks against security forces, government officials and civilians.
It also maintains control or influence over parts of rural central and southern Somalia, where it has established checkpoints, collects taxes and imposes its own system of governance.
The federal government has sought to weaken the group through military offensives supported by local clan militias and international partners.
The reported kidnappings in Warciise underscore the risks faced by civilians living in areas contested by the government and Al-Shabaab, particularly those accused by the militants of providing information to security forces.
Residents said they were concerned that further arrests or abductions could follow the recent military operations.
The government has not publicly commented on the reported kidnappings.
The situation remains fluid, with security forces and Macawisley fighters continuing operations in parts of Middle Shabelle as they seek to disrupt Al-Shabaab's networks and push the group away from populated areas.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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