Somali police launch manhunt after father beheads daughter in Baardheere
BAARDHEERE, Somalia — Somali authorities launched a manhunt Saturday after a father beheaded his daughter on the outskirts of Baardheere in the Gedo region, officials and residents said.
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The killing occurred around midday near the Iftin camp for internally displaced people, according to local authorities. The motive was not immediately known, and investigators are working to determine what led to the attack.
Baardheere District Commissioner Adam Mohamed Ahmed Dhagacade confirmed the incident and said security forces are pursuing the suspect, who fled after the killing.
“A father indeed beheaded his daughter today,” Dhagacade said. “We were informed that he had taken her in a vehicle, claiming he was taking her to Mogadishu. After reaching the outskirts of the town, he killed her. We cannot yet confirm the reason, but an investigation is ongoing.”
The attack has shocked residents in Baardheere and nearby communities, Dhagacade said, adding that authorities intend to apprehend the suspect and bring him to justice.
The killing comes amid growing concern over violent crimes involving family members in Somalia. Two days earlier, authorities reported that a man in the central town of Galdogob allegedly killed his mother and aunt, underscoring fears of rising domestic and family-related violence in different parts of the country.
Police urged residents to remain vigilant and to share any information that could help locate the suspect. Officials did not release further details about the victim or the father as the investigation continues.
Baardheere, a trading hub in the Gedo region, hosts large numbers of displaced people due to conflict and drought in southern Somalia. Community leaders said Saturday’s killing has heightened anxiety among families living in and around the Iftin camp, where humanitarian agencies have warned of severe strain on services and protection risks.
Authorities did not say whether the attack was linked to any wider dispute. Investigators are expected to interview relatives and witnesses and review travel movements in and out of the town.
As the search continues, local officials called for calm and urged communities to cooperate with law enforcement to prevent reprisals or the spread of misinformation.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
