MOGADISHU, Somalia – A military court in Mogadishu began hearing evidence of the assassination of Hodan District Commissioner Abdihakim Dhagajuun, who was killed early in the week under unclear circumstances in Mogadishu in the Banadir region.
On Saturday, an official hearing began in what appears to be an investigation that would culminate in the prosecution of several people, most of whom are believed to be security forces, a team that should otherwise have protected the official.
A number of security forces are being sued for “intentional” killing. Among those discovered Saturday for the probe is a police officer who testified about what happened ahead of the killing.
Earlier in the week, the government confirmed that security forces and other senior officers were involved in the shooting death of a local official. Abdihakim Dhagajuun was the commissioner of Hodan, one of the most populous districts in Mogadishu.
It is still not clear why the official was killed by his colleagues in one of the gruesome murders in Somalia’s history. The government, however, had promised to nail the perpetrators, most of whom are senior officers, according to reports.
Former Hodan District Commissioner Abdihakim Dhagajuun was shot dead at a crossroads between Howlwa Day and Warta Nabada District in Mogadishu on January 21 this year at midnight.
He was killed hours after returning from Turkey for medical treatment for an explosion wound. So far, no one has been officially charged with the murder, as the suspects include top officers.
The regional governor of Banaadir, Omar Filish, had confirmed the incident, noting that Dhagajuun was killed after a shootout between security forces on Howlwadag and Aden Adde Roads. The governor added that two of Dhagajuun’s bodyguards were injured in the incident and are currently recovering.
Filish, who also serves as Mogadishu mayor, announced a seven-man team to organize the official investigations, adding that funeral preparations were to be completed. Dhagajuun had been working as Hodan’s District Commissioner since July 2018.
AXADLETM.
