MOGADISHU ( Halbeeg News) – Al- Shabaab head of custodian, Omar Hegan has surrendered to Somali security agencies on Saturday.
According to Somali National Intelligence and Security Agencies (NISA) officials, Hegan who transferred to Mogadishu is currently being held at a secret facility in the capital for more investigations.
His defection is the highest-profile since the surrender of the former armed group deputy leader, Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansour on August 2017. He is currently on a house arrest in Mogadishu.
Several fighters have defected from the group surrendering to Somali government troops in recent years since the group was pushed out of the main cities mainly the capital Mogadishu in 2011.
Somali National Army backed by African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM) with US air support has stepped-up offensive against the group.
The troops recaptured key strategic towns previously controlled by the group along river Shabelle banks in the past months.
The loss of Barire, Canole, Sabid, and Aw-Dhegle was a big blow to the group operations.
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