Police chief in central Somalia town resigns after terror suspects freed

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Police chief in central Somalia town resigns after terror suspects freed

DHUSAMAREB (HORN OBSERVER) - Police commander in the town of Dhusamareb in central Somalia resigned on Friday night after three al-Qaeda affiliate group suspects were released from police cell by senior Galmudug officials which undermined the fight a

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Capt. Burhan Ahmed resigned on Friday citing interference by senior officials of Galmudug.

DHUSAMAREB (HORN OBSERVER) - Police commander in the town of Dhusamareb in central Somalia resigned on Friday night after three al-Qaeda affiliate group suspects were released from police cell by senior Galmudug officials which undermined the fight against the terror group.

In a press conference in Dhusamareb, Captain Burhan Ahmed said the three detainees were in the cell over suspect of being al-Shabaab operatives pending investigations when they were freed jeopardising the ongoing probe.

"Following tip-off from the public, on 24 March, we have arrested two suspects. Following investigations we have discovered a network whom they were part of. Unfortunately they were freed on the morning of 25 March and the evidences of the investigation taken away," Captain Ahmed said "senior officials obstructed the investigation, threatened me and released the suspects within 6 hours time.”

On 29 April, the police apprehended another terror suspect after arriving Dhusamareb from Mogadishu.

"That suspect was released from the police station on 4 May and was transferred to Adado by senior Galmudug officials," Captain Ahmed.

It was not immediately clear who the senior officers, Captain Ahmed, mentioned were. Galmudug's newly appointed Minister for Internal Security, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has dismissed the allegations as extraordinary.

"There is no police officer who can allege his administration," Fiqi said without going the allegedly freed individuals' matter into detail "A police officer is neither judiciary nor prosecuting officer."

However, Galmudug's new president has previously warned that known al-Shabaab militants could be hiding in the region with hidden agenda to wreak havoc in Galmudug.

In January, Horn Observer reported that the militant group has aggressively lobbied for having its "lawmakers” to be selected for the new Galmudug parliament and eventually managed to place 18 of them into the regional assembly.

(HORN OBSERVER)