Thursday January 12, 2023
Beledweyne (HOL) - Al Shabaab militants slaughtered at least 300 goats on Thursday in a rural village 20km from the Mahas district in Hiiraan.
According to people in El Heero, the militants slaughtered their animals because they believed the villagers supported the federal government and anti-Shabaab forces, which had been successful in driving Al Shabaab members out of the region.
"They told us these animals could not fall into the hands of the government, and they killed our livestock. Thankfully, God saved us from death, but we do not have any animals left for our survival."
Government officials said the militants slaughtered the livestock days after they failed to retake villages in Mahas district.
On Monday, the Macawisley militia successfully
repelled an attack near Dunad village after an hour-long gun battle. An anti-Shabaab militia leader said Al Shabaab fighters were planning to destroy drinking wells in the area.
At least 15 people were killed in
two car bomb blasts in the district of Mahas last week. Security officials said Al Shabaab targeted two military bases in Mahas.