At least four traders have been confirmed dead on Tuesday night after Al-Shabab fighters burnt a minibus in Lower region, an official confirmed on Wednesday.
Al-Shabab has been targeting business people engaging in khat trade in the areas under their control.
Deputy Governor of Lower Shabelle region, Abdifatah Haji Abdulle who confirmed the attack said Al-Shabab hit a vehicle carrying khat with Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), killing four traders on board.
The incident happened at Golweyn village which lies in the outskirt of Bulamareer town.
“On Tuesday night, Al-Shabab ambushed a vehicle transporting khat to Bulamareer town. They fired RPG at the vehicle and then set light to it,” the official said.
Abdulle noted that the authorities of Lower Shabelle region have dispatched officials and forces to the area.
“We sent officials to the scene. We are still gathering information about the incident. We expect the bodies collected from there today,” he confirmed.
The attack comes less than two weeks when Al-Shabab killed six traders and burnt eleven trucks which were carrying food to Hudur town of Bakool region.
The incident took place at Qur’a-Jome village which under the control of Al-Shabab.
It is said the trucks belonged to individuals in Beledweyne town and were used for business.
In March, Al-Shabaab fighters shot and killed nine transport donkeys ferrying goods to government-controlled areas in Bakool region.
The group burnt the goods at Elboon, 15 kilometres west of Wajid town.
Al-Shabaab in fighters in Bay and Bakool regions have been blocking humanitarian assistance from reaching vulnerable populations in those areas.
The Somali army, alongside with African Union peacekeeping troops in Somalia have been battling Al-Shabab, which still controls rural areas in Southern Somalia and often carry out attack against military and civilian in the country.
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