February crime watch: SYL Hotel, Baidoa restaurant attacks claim lives 40 civilians
Goobjoog News Crime Watch Project documents the killings and numbers of those injured every month in Somalia. The project seeks to promote justice and constitutional rights of citizens.
We may not be able to document all the killings or cases of injuries due to the scarce resources and sometimes lack of access to the affected areas in the country. Inadequate basic institutions in the country such as hospitals, mortuaries and police services which ideally gather such information are also an impediment to getting accurate and up to date data.
February was so far the deadliest month in the year with over 40 civilians killed in terror attacks around the country. The following is a chronology of events within the month of February.
February 1, 2016: At least one person killed and seven others were injured in a mortar shelling attack near Somalia’s presidential palace in Mogadishu
February 2, 2016: At least 2 people have died in violent clashes between protesters and police in Bossaso as in furious demonstration flared up.
February 2, 2016: A Djibouti-based Daallo Airlines Airbus A321-100, en route from Mogadishu to Djibouti, experienced an onboard explosion 15 minutes after takeoff and returned to Mogadishu airport.
The explosion ripped a hole in the fuselage and one person was found dead on the ground.
February 2, 2016: Local aid worker escaped unhurt after improvised Explosive device fitted to his car went off in Hamar Jajab district.
The aid worker was driving along Ex-UNICEF Hospital road when his car blew up, sources at the scene have said.
February 2, 2016: Hirsi Adan Uruurshe was killed by unknown assailants after dusk prayer in Bossaso town of Semi-autonomous regional state of Puntland.
Hirsi was a well-known trader in the area and head of Hubaal trading company according a local resident who spoke to Goobjoog News.
Feberaayo 05, 2016: At three people were killed in car explosion occurred in Wadajir district.
February 5, 2016: At least one killed and agent of Somalia’s National Intelligence and security agency injured in car explosion in Mogadishu’s Wadajir district on Friday.
Confirming the incident Wadajir district commissioner Ahmed abdulle Afrah a bomb fitted to car exploded killing person and leaving behind injury of one person.
February 6, 2016: Several Somali national Army have been killed after Al-Shabab fighters attacked SNA military base in Bufow locality of Bufow.
Heavy gunfire was reported for several hours, with Al-Shabab taking over the camp and killing some of SNA soldiers including a commander before looting supplies, witnesses said.
Al-Shabab fighters are said to have attacked the base from different direction prompting hours of fighting.
February 6, 2016: Several Somali national Army have been killed after Al-Shabab fighters attacked SNA military base in Bufow locality of Bufow.
Heavy gunfire was reported for several hours, with Al-Shabab taking over the camp and killing some of SNA soldiers including a commander before looting supplies, witnesses said.
Al-Shabab fighters are said to have attacked the base from different direction prompting hours of fighting.
February 6, 2016: Senior of Somalia’s secret agency was Saturday killed in a drive way-by-shooting by unidentified gunmen in Wadajir district.
Eyewitness who declined his name in fear of reprisal said the gunmen have been following the officer before they opened on his car.
“The officer was killed in Wadajir district, after gunmen in vehicle blocked his car’s route and sprayed him with bullets” he said.
The officer who was identified as Abdullahi Dabashe has been living in Dharkeynley district for a long time, according.
February 7, 2016: One person died and four others injured in bomb explosion occurred in Qoryooley town, witnesses said.
Abdi Omar, SNA officer who spoke to the media said unidentified assailants hurled a hand grenade at Khat shop where several SNA soldiers were staying.
“Explosion occurred at Miraa (Khat) shop, a woman who was seller and four other people including police officers” said Omar.
February 7, 2016: Deputy Governor Gedo region Sheikh Mohamed Hussein Al-Qadi has been injured in a car explosion at the centre in Bardhere.
Al-Qadi was driving to his office when his car blew up, sources at the scene have said.
Goobjoog News correspondent at the scene says the deputy was driving few metres away from his home when the incident happened.
February 9, 2016: Middle age man, identified as Sheikh Abdullahi Abdulaziz, was slaughtered to death as some hoodlums invaded his home in outskirt of Bulloburde town.
The unidentified hoodlums, who were armed with guns and cutlasses, allegedly raided the home of the decease and took few metres away from home where they slaughtered Abdullaziz, at about 10:30 pm, saying they did not come for innocent lives.
It was gathered that anxious residents contacted the vigilance group in the area, which in turn contacted the administration. However, when security forces arrived at the scene, Dada’s corpse was recovered, but the hoodlums had fled.
February 10, 2016: Two people including one civilian killed and five others injured in clash between Somali government soldiers at Bardhere’s Khat market.
Sources say the fighting flared up after a group of government soldier tried to disarm several soldiers who were at the market.
February 12, 2016: A woman died of wounds suffered in a stabbing attack afters attackers stormed her house.
24-year-old woman identified as Farhiye Fantastic died in the town when the attackers broke into her house and stabbed the victim to death, according to police.
February 13, 2016: One person was wounded when Somali government troops in the southern coastal town of Marko were targeted in a grenade explosion, according to the eyewitnesses.
The blast occurred when unknown assailants threw a hand grenade at troops on security patrol in the conflict-hit town, injuring a Soldier.
February 13, 2016: At least one person injured in Burweyn after Al-Shabab fighters staged attacked on Government soldiers barely three hours after SNA seized Burweyn locality 20 KM south of Buloburde.
The fighters attacked Burweyn town from different sides and fighting Somali government soldiers and Al-Shabab flared up.
February 12, 2016: A grenade thrown at Somali troops in Jowhar town has injured two Soldiers on Friday evening, according to residents.
The bomb was hit at a place that armed government soldiers were guarding police station called “Baryar”
The victims were injured in the blast were rushed to the hospital.
February 13, 2016: Somali government soldiers allegedly killed civilian in Hawadley locality.
February 14, 2016: Ten people died mostly fighting sides died in fighting between government soldiers and Al-Shabab fighters in Burweyn locality in Hiran region.
February 14, 2016: Somali government soldier allegedly kills his collogue in Afgoye town.
February 15, 2016: Former Somali defense minister Muhidin Mohamed Haji was killed in a car blast in Somali capital Mogadishu, police said.
A police officer at the scene said the bomb had been planted underneath the car of Muhidin Mohamed Haji Ibrahim.
The blast occurred in Mogadishu’s KM4 neighborhood.
February 15, 2016: Al-shabaab fighters stormed a house at Biyo-Adde locality where fighters went away with the owner of the house.
February 15, 2016: A mother identified as Hawo Moalim and her son named Ahmed Mohamed, were killed Suq-Ba’ad in Mogadishu by unidentified gunmen.
February 15, 2016: Over 12 people were killed in fighting Al-Shabab fighters and Somali government soldiers at police station in the market town of Afgooye.
February 16, 2016: Unidentified gunmen in a car have killed a man in a drive-by-shooting in the Somalia capital, Mogadishu.
The man was killed in El-qalow neighbourhood of Mogadishu’s Wadajir district after gunmen travelling in a car blocked his way, spraying bullets on his car, according to witnesses.
February 16, 2016: Al-Shabaab says it has killed a man it accused of being spies for foreign countries..
A self-proclaimed judge for al-Shabab said on the group’s radio station that the man identified as Barre Hassan Dhore had been executed by firing squad in the rebel-held town of El-Ware locality in Hiraan.
February 16, 2016: At least three people were wounded after private bodyguards and police exchanged fire near Maka Al-Mukarama Hotel.
Reports say that the fighting started as the security guards suspected a police car and open fire on it which later resulted in fighting that led the injury of 3 civilians.
February 17, 2016: A man abducted from Buloburde town by Al-Shabab killed five after the group pulled him from his house, officials said.
According to the administration the body of the man with four bullet wounds was found in the outskirt of the town.
Sources said negotiations to release the man were led by local elders who however, failed to convince the group.
February 18, 2016 Several Al-Shabaab fighters were killed in a clash with AMISOM troops in Burhakabo in Bay region, area district commissioner said.
Ali Hassan Abdi, Burhakabo district commissioner told Goobjoog News the AMISOM troops from Ethiopia ambushed the Al-Shabab base and killed a number before others fled.
“AMISOM forces this morning attack a base which Al-shabaab have been hiding and managed to kill several of them,” said Abdi.
February 20, 2016: Gun battles and grenade attacks killed two people in Marka town, where the government is struggling to contain a violent insurgency, witnesses said.
Men with guns ambushed the government soldiers while they patrolled a market.
“Unidentified men hurled hand grenade at the soldiers and escaped in the melee of gunfire from other troops nearby,” said a resident who witnessed the incident. He said two civilians were wounded.
February 20, 2016: Barawe district commissioner Hussein Barre Mohamed survived a bomb attack after an explosive device blew up as he tried to access his office.
Speaking exclusively to Goobjoog News from his bed in an AMISOM controlled hospital in Barawe, Lower Shabelle region, Mohamed said the explosion went off as he opened the door to his office.
“Just when I opened the door to my office this morning a huge explosion ripped through the door and injured my left arm. Someone must have planned to kill me,” Mohamed.
February 21, 2016: At least five fighters from both sides were killed and over ten others were wounded after the Al Shabab fighters clashed with local Somali herdsmen in a small village called Adaley in Mudug region.
According to witnesses, the fighting between the local herdsmen and the fighters of Al-Shabab begun after the group asked the local herdsmen to pay livestock of camels and goats as forced tax usually taken by Al-Shabab militias.
The local herdsmen rejected the demands from Al-Shabab and started gathering light weapons to resist the fighters of Al-Shabab who returned the next day to collect the livestock from the locals, but the fighting started.
Febuary 22, 2016: At least SNA soldiers injured in fighting between government forces in Adado town.
February 23, 2016: At least two people died as fierce fighting flared up between Somali National Army (SNA) and Jubbaland forces on Monday on the outskirt of the administrative capital of IJA, Kismayo.
Reports say that the attack began with heavy artillery and mortar fire on madhamato locality by Jubbaland soldiers.
Residents of those areas have started moving away from their homes to seek bombshell, according to local sources.
February 24, 2016: Fighting between Somali soldiers has left at least three people dead in Baidoa town.
At least 4 others, including both soldiers and civilians, were wounded in the clashes on Wednesday.
Police and eyewitnesses said that a gun battle erupted between the soldiers when some of the troops tried to stop and arrest a soldier.
“An accused soldier who was trying to escape a police dragnet opened fire and killed one soldier, prompting clash between the sides.” Adan Mohamed who spoke to Goobjoog News said.
February 24, 2016: Reports reaching us from Afmadow town in Lower Jubba region indicate that unknown gunmen shot dead the driver of a mini bus that was heading to Mogadishu. It was not immediately possible to establish why the man was killed.
February 24, 2016: The dead body unidentified young Somali boy was found in parts of Hodan district in the Somalia capital Mogadishu, witnesses said.
The man died of multiple stab wounds and was found and witnesses said that that he his hands were tightened behind his back.
People in the area could not recognise the dead body of the young boy who seemed to be killed last night.
February 24, 2016: A man was killed in front of a mosque in Waberi district of Mogadishu.
February 24, 2016: Two beheaded bodies were found in the outskirt of Baladweyn town in Hiraan region.
February 25, 2016: At least 4 civilians were seriously wounded in mortar attacks in Mogadishu town, according to local Somali government officials and witnesses.
February 26, 2016: Al-Shabab gunmen forced their way into the Somali Youth League Hotel, popularly known as SYL Hotel, in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, exchanging fire with hotel guards and killing 10 people and over 45 injured before government security forces ended the attack.
A suicide bomber rammed his car into the first security checkpoint near the hotel and blew it up, allowing gunmen to fight their way past hotel guards at the next security barrier, said Capt. Mohamed Hussein.
February 26, 2016: At least two people died after Kenyan warplane conducted airstrike on several areas near Bardhere .
Among the areas Bombarded are Daar Moalim and Abdi-Affey villages located in the outskirts of Bardere, in Gedo region.
February 27, 2016: Unidentified gunmen killed a woman in Mogadishu’s Sinai Market witness and government officials said.
The deceased was one of the renowned women in the district.
February 29, 2016: At least 30 people have been killed and 60 others injured in twin bombings in south central Somalia, according to hospital sources in the town.
The incidents occurred when Al-Shabaab bombed a busy junction and a nearby restaurant in the town of Baidoa, located about 245 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu.