Sources confirm that Al Shabaab fighters have carried out a series of arrests and raids this week targeting civilians inside the Al Shabaab controlled town of Misire in the Bay province of Somalia.

This past Tuesday on the 12th of October, Al Shabaab fighters arrested four civilians in the Al Shabaab controlled town of Misire that where suspected of transporting merchandise and goods to the nearby ENDF occupied district of Diinsoor, which is situated 30 kilometers away.

Local contacts have obtained the names of the victims, which are listed below.

1) Shaaciye Cusman Madkuus
2) Ibrahim Cabdiqadir
3) Macalin Madeey
4) Kawalaawe (unable to obtain the first name of the victim)

The following day on the 13th of October, sources reveal that Al Shabaab placed a curfew on the town, which brought movement in the town to a complete stand-still. The local market in the town was also closed down.

During the same night of the curfew, Al Shabaab fighters carried out door-to-door searches of homes in the town and discovered two AK-47 assault rifles and PKM bullets. Furthermore Sources confirm a man known locally as “Ina Ibrahim Mohamed Ali” was among those arrested.

Per sources, the weapons and bullets seized by Al Shabaab during the searches that took place on the 13th of October are currently being held at a security outpost/station manned by Al Shabaab within the vicinity of the town of Misire.

The following day on the 14th of October, sources confirm that Al Shabaab fighters released all the civilians that where arrested during the course of the past few days and lifted the curfew on the town of Misire.

However, the locals in the town of Misire refused to reopen there shops in the market upon the lifting of the curfew due to the unjust arrests, raids and seizure of property carried out by Al Shabaab according to sources with intricate knowledge on the matter.

Per Sources, following the debacle, Clan elders from the Dabaare sub-clan arrived in the town of Misire where they held closed door meetings with local Al Shabaab officials to discuss the recent events in the town.

The discussions are still on-going and the outcome of these talks will become more clear in the coming days. Furthermore, as of today the “Jabhad” unit of Al Shabaab have completely withdrawn its contingent from the town of Misire. The exact reason behind this move isn’t clear but there’s a possibility it could be linked to the growing resentment from the local population.

Halgan Media Service Desk.