In the industrious port city of Bosaso, nestled on Puntland’s stoic coastline, a dramatic encounter unfolded this past Friday that resembled any other action-packed thriller. The hustle and bustle of everyday life was interrupted by the sound of gunfire when local law enforcement neutralized a potential threat in the heart of the city. In an incident that could rival the best crime dramas, Bosaso’s law enforcement intercepted a foreign bomb maker allegedly trying to set off an improvised explosive device (IED) in the city center.
The unfolding of this Lorenzo’s-corner incident brought Bosaso, a critical hub flanked by the Arabian Sea, under the spotlight once again. Bari Police Commissioner, Abdukadir Jama Dirir, recounted the midnight patrol that led to the gripping discovery reminiscent of a ticking time bomb scenario. The raid that launched into the nearby shadows of Bosaso uncovered a hideout packed with explosive devices and other related paraphernalia.
This breakneck operation followed an explosion that resonated through the streets on Friday evening. But when the dust settled, no souls were claimed, although the reality hung heavy in the air—it was one close shave. It soon emerged that the deceased suspect, still officially unnamed, had been slipping through the city’s veins, masquerading as an ordinary street vendor or sometimes even donning the guise of a beggar. An art at deception, clearly, to win locals’ sympathy while weaving his treacherous plans.
However, as the spotlight shone on the tight-knit enforcement team, they apprehended another individual tied to the explosive device, reportedly harboring injuries from the unsuccessful detonation.
The deceased, like a ghost from the past, left behind a trail that led detectives straight to a sinister arsenal. Among the chilly finds in his abode were hand grenades, more IEDs, and the ubiquitous mobile phones that likely played a sinister role in his shadowy dealings. Perhaps he might’ve taken a page from a Bond villain’s handbook? It was clear that this was more than just another day at the office for the city’s anti-terror squad.
This significant event marked another chapter in Puntland’s relentless crusade against ISIS militants nestled in Bari’s rugged terrains. Bolstered by guts and grit, the local security forces have been clawing back chunks of territories and dismantling militant havens.
The weekend brought in a sweeping drive when Bosaso police netted around a dozen individuals, including a smattering of foreign nationals, along with 70 local residents implicated in allegations of collaborating with the terror agents. The law was coming down hard, like a gavel on a judge’s bench.
Adding to an already complex narrative is the vibrant mosaic that is Bosaso’s ethnic landscape. A significant slice of the population hails from Ethiopia, many of whom are ethnic Oromos escaping the claws of conflict back in their homeland. In such a dynamic enclave, the sticky issue of safety is ever-present.
Meanwhile, in the municipality of Garowe, the pulse of the public echoed in the streets as residents rallied to support the government’s recent clampdown on foreign labor in response to growing security anxieties. The air was thick with their chants, championing the same cause that had, just days before, brought death to the doorsteps of Bosaso.
In line with tightening the security noose, Puntland’s Ministry of the Interior issued fresh edicts aimed at curtaining threats originating from unsanctioned foreign entries. New guidelines erect barriers against unauthorized foreigners slipping into Puntland, forbidding acts of begging encircled by scraps of paper or pleas in marketplaces and other public arenas.
Telecommunication companies fall under the crosshairs too—any issuing of phone services to aliens sans proper identification and recognized guarantors? That train has left the station. Pre-existing numbers linked to beggar operations are being phased out, no questions asked.
Come January 25, 2025, it won’t be a good day to be a trespasser. The directive cautiously waits like a lion in long grass, banning unlawful residents from securing housing, gaining employment, or even holding a phone line. Those found abetting such acts will find themselves in the legal crosshairs, awaiting judgment as accomplices to crime. Unregistered small businesses puckering the markets also had their fates sealed, effectively closed for business.
And if you’re wondering what the local buzz is like in these parts, let’s just say the crackdown didn’t go unnoticed. It’s always compelling when life mirrors art as Bosaso wrestles with the tide of law and order.
Report By Axadle
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
