MOGADISHU (SD) – Mogadishu district official was shot dead hours after he returned from a medical trip to Turkey, Somali government confirmed.

Abdihakim Abdirahman Isse (Dhagajun), Hodan district Commissioner was killed after being caught up in a gun battle between his guards and police officers at a checkpoint in Mogadishu.

In a statement, Somali ministry for information has confirmed incident saying the circumstances surrounding the murder of the official is yet unclear.

Sources confirmed that Somali soldiers at a Jid-Marehan located between Howlwadag and Warta Nabada district in Mogadishu have opened fire on the convoy of the official, prompting clashes with bodyguards.

Officials detained

Banaadir regional governor Omar Mohamud Filish who condemned the incident has called for urgent investigation into the killing of the DC.

The governor also appointed a seven-member team to organise the funeral of the official.

Police official who spoke on a condition of anonymity told Somali dispatch that two top officials from Waberi and Howl-wadag districts were arrested in connection with the murder of the official.

” The two detained officials are Mohamed Abdukadir Mooshin and Shuceyb Abdi Mohamed, Waberi and Hawlwadag police commissioners respectively, both of them were at the scene but we have a suspicion that the attack was inside job. We are investigating the incident and the officials,” said

Dhagajun had arrived in the country yesterday from Turkey where he was treated for an IED attack.

His car hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) last November but he survived with injuries.