Gunmen Kill Two Senior Security Officers in Saraar Region of Somaliland

Two senior security officers of Somaliland Police and Custodial corps have been shot dead in an ambush attack by unknown gunmen, in Oog district.

The slain officers were identified as Abdullahi Ahmed Tallan and Nur Aw-Ali Nuh.

Lieutenant colonel Abdullahi Ahmed Tallan was officer-in-charge of Custodial corps in Garadag District while Captain Nur Aw-Ali was deputy District Police Commissioner.

The officers were attacked by assailants with automatic weapons in a remote area while traveling to Oog town of Saraar region on their way to Hargeisa. The gunmen fled the area and are neither identified yet nor their motives.

There was also another man with the officers, who was critically injured. It is yet unknown the identity of the third man and whether he was a police officer or a civilian.

Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi sent his condolences to the families and colleagues of the killed officers. President Bihi urged in his statement, that all security department to capture the perpetrators and to bring them to justice.

Suldaan Abdirahman Ahmed Sh. Mohamed, a close relative to Lieutenant colonel Abdullahi Ahmed Tallan, confirmed also the death of the two officers who were traveling back to the Capital City, Hargeisa. “They were driving a police vehicle when the attack happened. Another man was with them and is critically injured.” told the local press.

Somaliland police and military forces in Sanaag, Saraar, and Sool regions have been started an extensive search for the murderers.

In this week, Garadag District was overshadowed by the unexpected death of a man who has been detained by the district police. And there is no proof that these incidents are related.

Investigations are in an early stage and police have not made a statement.