MOGADISHU (Halbeeg)- Questions remained unanswered in the Siinka-Dher Area incident where Somali security officers allegedly shot and killed three civilians including a child on Monday morning.
The forces, relatives, and eyewitnesses have given conflicting reports about the fatal shooting in the outskirts of Somali capital Mogadishu.
While the government forces insist that there were shootouts between them and the residents allege extra-judicial killing.
Dozens of Somali forces were deployed at Siinka locality at dawn to demolished illegally build houses in the area.
Osman Ali Haji, who was among the security officers deployed in the area said they were confronted by armed men who engaged them in a shootout.
“The officers were to clear the area but during the operation, armed men shot at the officers leading brief clashes between the sides,” Haji said.
Witnesses who spoke to Halbeeg News said the officers deliberately opened fire on civilians during a forceful eviction in the area.
Relative to of the victims who spoke to the media said the victims were unarmed civilians.
Protesting
“The government forces killed two women and a child in Siinka-Dher locality. The forces were demolishing houses but it is not yet clear reason behind the killing these people,” said a relative identified as Omar Sheikh, “It is likely to be part of extrajudicial killings carried out the government forces with total impunity.”
Residents of Siinka Dher protested the killing of the victims calling for legal action against the perpetrators.
They started their demonstration at the spot where the victims were killed.
“Those killed are innocent people who were just planning how they will collect their belongings from the demolished houses,” said one of the protesters.
The local authorities of Siinka-Dher locality and the Somali government have not yet commented on the incident.
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