According to reliable sources, the assailants attempted to forcibly free inmates from the facility, sparking a direct confrontation with security forces stationed at the prison.

Recent reports indicate that gunfire has ceased, but it remains unclear whether the attackers succeeded in freeing any of the prisoners. Official details on casualties from the shootout have yet to be released.

Galkayo Central Prison has been targeted in similar attacks in the past. The facility is known to house inmates convicted of severe crimes, including murder—often related to tribal conflicts—and drug trafficking. Several inmates are reportedly under death sentences issued by the Puntland military court.

This incident comes just four months after a comparable attack on the same prison, during which one person was killed and two others were injured as militias again sought to forcibly release inmates.