Photo : Haaji Mohamuud Omar

Heavily armed assailants abducted a prominent businessman in broad daylight yesterday in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

The brazen abduction unfolded 6pm local time yesterday in the Suuq Bacad market in the Yaaqshid district and targeted Haaji Mohamuud Omar according to eyewitnesses.

Local sources reveal armed gunmen brandishing Pistols and AK-47 assault rifles jumped out of a vehicle and rushed Haaji Mohamed and forced him into the backseat of the vehicle in front of dozens of people, than sped off with Haaji Mohamed into the distance.

The exact whereabouts and well being of Haaji Mohamuud remains unknown but what’s for sure is that the perpetrators where well aware of Haaji Mohamuud’s itinerary and knew when to strike, which raises questions on weather this was an inside job or a well executed operation targeting one of Mogadishu’s most powerful families.

Haaji Mohamuud Omar is the brother of Abuukar Omar “Cadaan” a former senior official in the Islamic Courts Union and the chief financier of the movement before it was toppled in late 2006.

Following the ouster of the courts, Abuukar Omar “Cadaan” became a spiritual leader for countless armed factions and rebel groups born out of the splintering of the Islamic Courts Union during the armed campaign against the US backed Ethiopian invasion and subsequent occupation of Somalia.

Photo : Abuukar Omar “Cadaan”

It’s not clear if Haaji Mohamuud Omar was targeted and abducted due to his relationship with his brother Abuukar Omar “Cadaan” whose been out of the spotlight for a number of years and living under heavy security in Mogadishu.

The abduction of Haaji Mohamuud Omar has sent shock waves across Mogadishu’s business community, which has only exasperated the situation in an already violent prone city that’s reeling from a surge in attacks in the run up to national elections slated for early next year.

UPDATE : September 23rd.

As revealed yesterday, armed gunmen carried out a brazen abduction in broad daylight targeting Haaji Mohamuud Omar, a prominent businessman from one of Mogadishu’s most powerful families.

Security officials from Somalia’s federal government that spoke with Halgan Media on condition of anonymity confirm Haaji Mohamuud Omar’s abduction was not a random act of violence but a pre planned operation carried out by elements within the National Intelligence & Security Agency (NISA).

Further revelations received by the Halgan Media desk reveal NISA was following the movements of Haaji Mohamuud for a month straight and where we’ll aware of his itenirary prior to carrying out the abduction. Following the abduction, Haaji Mohamuud was whisked away to the notorious NISA run “Godka Jilacow” prison, where he’s currently being held under arbitrary detention.

Godka Jilacow is a notorious prison in Mogadishu built during the Siad Barre era, which held countless political prisoners and dissidents. Thousands where maimed, tortured and executed within those prison walls during the 21 year reign of the socialist government.

Godka Jilacow was reopened following the end of the Somali civil war and as of today is run by the National Intelligence & Security Agency (NISA), where many of those same Siad Barre era abuses are still taking place.

The current well being of Haaji Mohamuud Omar Cadaan remains unknown but what’s for sure is that he remains wrongfully incarcerated in Godka Jilacow, just like the thousands before him.

As of today, September 23rd the Somali government has not addressed the abduction of Haaji Mohamuud Omar, who remains under arbitrary detention at the hands of the ruling junta.

UPDATE : September 29th

Sheekh Ali Wajis, a family member of the Haaji Mohamuud Omar confirms his detention at the hands of the government during an interview with the Somali branch of VOA news. The Sheekh went further he believed his relative was being detained on alleged links to the Al Aqaeda affiliated Militant group Al Shabaab.

Sheekh Ali Wajis did not confirm nor deny if Haaji Mohamuud Omar had any connection to insurgents but did state that the Somali government has still not revealed the reason behind the imprisonment of Haaji Mohamuud Omar who currently remains under detention at the notorious Godka Jilacow prison in Mogadishu.

In past instances, the Somali government has made it routine to charge individuals whom they deem as dissidents or view as threats with charges of Al Shabaab affiliation to justify there imprisonment.

Halgan Media Service Desk

Email : info@halganmedia.net