JOWHAR (Halbeeg)- At least two people were injured on Friday in an attack by suspected Al-Shabaab on the Bal’ad-Jowhar road in Middle Shabelle region.
Al-Shabaab fighters have stepped attack against civilian and military vehicles using Mogadishu-Jowhar highway.
According to reports, the attackers opened fire on a car transporting Khat, leading to the injury of two people including the driver of the vehicle.
A local resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the attack took place at El-Baq locality.
“They were ferrying Khat in a minibus but on reaching El-baq area, Al-Shabaab gunmen emerged from the nearby bushes and sprayed the vehicle with bullets. Two people including the driver of the vehicle were injured,” he said.
Mid last month, four traders were killed after Al-Shabab fighters burnt a minibus in Lower Shabelle region.
Deputy Governor of Lower Shabelle region, Abdifatah Haji Abdulle said Al-Shabab hit a vehicle carrying khat with Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), killing four the traders on board.
The incident happened at Golweyn village which lies in the outskirt of Bulamareer town.
Al-Shabab has been targeting business people engaging in khat trade in the areas under their control since 2009 when the group banned it.
The red-stemmed, green-leafed plant is a stimulant which works in a similar manner as a couple of cups of espresso.
Khat is banned in the US, Canada and most of Europe – all places with large diaspora Somali communities.
But no government or authority has ever succeeded in banning it in Somalia.
Chewing khat is an afternoon activity among Somali men but it is increasingly being abused with addicts commonly spending all their money on bunches of leaves and wasting hours in a stupor.
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