As confirmed by members of the Parliament and elders in the community, Al-Shabaab’s ruthless tactics involved setting fire to residential houses, predominantly Somali houses and shacks, leaving a grim landscape in their wake.

The villages subjected to this devastating attack by Al-Shabaab are as follows: Madax Maroodi, Ceel Baraf, Guud Weyn, Daabaan, Saah Weyn and  Showli Afweyne.

Elders who shared their insights on the incident emphasized that Al-Shabaab is specifically targeting civilians who have refused to comply with their oppressive directives. Among these directives was the order to confront the local forces of Ma’awisley in various areas within Yaqbiri Weyne and its surrounding vicinity.

The affected herdsmen and farmers find themselves in dire straits, with no relief in sight thus far.

The government of Somalia has remained conspicuously silent on the heinous atrocities committed by Al-Shabaab against its own people. In response, it falls upon the local forces of Ma’awisley to take it upon themselves to liberate these embattled areas from the grip of Al-Shabaab’s terror.

In a troubling development, informed sources have revealed that the Somali Government’s media apparatus has been prevented from reporting on the barbaric attack on civilian population in the seven villages under Yaqbiri Weyne.

This censorship is reportedly driven by deep-seated clan animosities, as the state media is currently controlled by a dominant clan, further compounding the challenges faced by the affected communities.