A deadly ambush overnight that targeted a mini bus left scores of Somalis dead and wounded in the village of Feedhcaad in Faafan province of the Somali regional state, commonly referred to as the Ogaden.
Residents in the village of Feedhcaad that spoke to Halgan Media on condition of anonymity reveal armed Oromo gunmen launched a violent assault on the village as a result of a cross border raid.
The armed gunmen numbering half a dozen according to eyewitnesses began indiscriminately opening fire as the besieged the village and its residents.
During the midst of the attack on the village of Feedhcaad, a mini van packed with travelers was approaching the village and oblivious to the presence of armed Oromo militiamen that where roaming through the Somali village of Feedhcaad.
This can be attributed to the fact that the inhabitants of the village sought refuge in there homes during the on-set of the attack, while those that where lucky enough fled to the woods outside the village of Feedhcaad.
As the mini bus entered the village and advanced to the center of Feedhcaad, the mini van and its passengers where suddenly sprayed in a hail of bullets from multiple directions. Once the smoke cleared a young girl was left dead, while four others where left wounded and riddled with bullets as they layed in a pool of blood.
Following the ambush on the mini bus, the Oromo gunmen dispersed from the village of Feedhcaad and where than spotted heading west of Feedhcaad in the direction of the nearby neighboring Oromo regional state according to eyewitnesses.
The Halgan Media service desk has obtained the names of the deceased and wounded victims that where ambushed by armed Oromo gunmen. which are listed below.
Names of wounded individuals.
- Ciid Xasan
- Cali Ibrahim Cabdi
- Sacaada Maxamed
- Nimco Cabdi
Name of deceased victim.
- Xalimo (last name not obtained)
The mini bus that was targeted in the ambush departed the capital city of Jigjiga earlier that night after Maqrib prayer and was in route to the Somali border town of Tuliguuleed, which is situated just 25 kilometers north of the capital Jigjiga.
However, the mini van nor its passengers where able to make it to there final destination (Tuliguuleed) as a result of encountering the violent ambush in the village of Feedhcaad at the hands of the Oromo militiamen.
The village of Feedhcaad where the attack took place is situated inside the Somali region on the road linking Jigjiga and Tuliguuleed in Faafan province. This corridor is vital for the movement of goods from Jigjiga to Tuliguuleed and also connects to other corridors leading to various other towns and districts in Faafan province.
Last night’s deadly incident wasn’t the first time such an attack took place targeting the village of Feedhcaad and its residents.
The village of Feedhcaad routinely falls victim to similar cross border raids at the hands of fanatical right wing Oromo gunmen, since the Somali village of Feedhcaad in Faafan province is adjacent to the neighboring Oromo regional state.
The Halgan Media service desk will continue to document war crimes against Somalis. Stay tuned for more updates.
Halgan Media
