A high-ranking Somali military commander, Lt. Colonel Nur Mohamed Gaabow (also known as Nuur Farey), was fatally shot on Saturday in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region.
The incident occurred on the outskirts of Afoye town, approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu.
Lt. Colonel Gaabow, commander of the 14th October Brigade, was addressing soldiers during routine inspections when he was attacked by an individual in military uniform.
According to Bulle Ali, a regional security official, the assailant is believed to be an infiltrator from the al-Shabaab terrorist group.
Soldiers apprehended the attacker, and an investigation has been launched into the deadly incident.
The 14th October Brigade, established to honor the victims of the devastating 2017 Mogadishu bombing, has been actively involved in operations to reclaim towns held by al-Shabaab in the Lower Shabelle region.
Brigadier General Abdullahi Ahmed Sheikh, a former special forces commander, expressed his profound condolences on social media following the tragic death.
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the assassination.
This incident echoes a similar attack in November, where al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the killing of several Emirati and Bahraini military personnel in Mogadishu by an alleged infiltrator.
