Somali investigators identify but can not name officers who rounded and murdered eight health workers in Gololey

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Somali investigators identify but can not name officers who rounded and murdered eight health workers in Gololey

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali investigators have identified military officers who rounded up and murdered eight health workers in Gololey village last week, three senior officials told Horn Observer in an exclusive interviews on Wednesday and Thur

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Newly trained Somali police officers patrolling Mogadishu city centre. (Photo/file).

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali investigators have identified military officers who rounded up and murdered eight health workers in Gololey village last week, three senior officials told Horn Observer in an exclusive interviews on Wednesday and Thursday.

"But there is a big hurdle now in revealing the perpetrators of this heinous crime," they said. The killer officers' clans and government officials are obstructing the investigators and even threatened the witnesses.

A day after an Al-Shabaab bomb attack, on Wednesday afternoon, May 27th armed Somali military officers raided Gololey village in Middle Shabelle region and abducted eight male health professionals: seven were working for the local non-governmental organisation called Zamzam Foundation while another one was operating a chemist. All were shot dead in an execution-style killing around 3.p.m (local time) that Wednesday. Their bodies were found on the next morning and were identified by their relatives.

-IDENTIFICATION OF KILLERS-

Shortly after his return from Balcad town, one local state minister who is a member of the investigating committee appointed by Hirshabelle president, Mohamed Abdi Waare on May 29th, has told Horn Observer that his committee interviewed witnesses and some family members. Also, the committee was informed that the police in Mogadishu is holding the driver of a civilian minibus hired by the killer officers on the day of the murder.

"We met the witnesses and some family members. The police in Mogadishu has detained the driver of the minibus who transported the killers," the minister told Horn Observer in anonymity condition for fear of reprisals as he was not authorised to discuss on the matter. It is now evident to us but there is a big obstacle that we can not name them due to the safety of our committee members and the safety of the witnesses."

The investigating committee was in Balcad on Saturday and Sunday (May 30 and 31) to interrogate officials, witnesses and some family members before returning to Mogadishu on Monday June 1. Five female employees, who were working at the Gololey Mother and Child Health centre the day of the attack, were also transported to Mogadishu for their safety. Horn Observer has obtained the names of the five but could not publish due to their safety and that of their families.

"There is no much we can do now. All what we know is the level of the threats and risks associated to this case," the local state minister adds.

- C.I.D INVESTIGATORS-

Separately, on Monday June 1, officers at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Mogadishu interviewed four of the five female health workers rescued from Gololey, according to a senior lead police investigator.

"We've met and interviewed four female NGO workers. Their phones were looted by the killers on the day of the attack. Tracking down their sim numbers has provided evidence on the killing. We are waiting from the Federal Government of Somalia to guide us so that we can reveal this to the public," the CID officer who also requested to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Horn Observer.

Horn Observer reporter saw the white minibus at the CID headquarters in Mogadishu on Tuesday a day after the police interrogated the four female health workers as witnesses. The driver, who allegedly told the investigators that he was hired by the military to transport equipment to the basecamp before officers ordered him to ferry soldiers to Gololey on Wednesday midday, was also in the custody of the CID, according to the officers who spoke to Horn Observer.

All officers and officials interviewed have expressed their concern on the lack of the willing from the authorities in Mogadishu and in Jowhar to identify, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators. This has even become more complicated after the Chief of Somali national army, General Odawa Yusuf Rage, on May 31 press conference held in Adado in Galmudug, denied that the officers responsible for the killing were from Somali National Army (SNA).

"Those alleging SNA soldiers on the killing of the eight civilians in Gololey are serving for the interest of the enemy," General Odawa said.

READ HORN OBSERVER EXCLUSIVE REPORT ON THE INCIDENT