KISMAYO (SD) – Jubbaland state security agencies have arrested a senior intelligence commander of the militant group Al-Shabaab following covert operation on the outskirts of Kismayo town.

Mohamud Ahmed Hussein, Jubbaland security forces commander told the media Ugas Aden Mohamed, the Amniyat (intelligence) head in Kismayo and its environs was captured in a sting operation by the security forces in Gosha village.

“Our security forces captured the head of Amniyat in Gosh following a tip off from the public,” the commander said.

Mohamed is reported to have coordinated several attacks which targeted officials and government installations in southern Somalia.

The commander noted that Somali forces will intensify the operations on al-Shabab militants in the region.

“I hope if the cooperation between the public and the forces is enhanced, these militants will not be able to operate in this region,” he said.

The Somali security forces backed by allied forces have stepped up ground operations against the militants in the Horn of Africa nation despite the militants’ continued resistance.

Somali army backed by African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) ousted al-Shabab from the capital Mogadishu in August 2011, but the terror group is still in control of several areas in southern and central Somalia and capable of conducting attacks.