Afgooye, Southwest – A tense stillness hung over Buula Madiina early Wednesday as Somali security forces launched a precise, pre-planned operation that would end hours later with families reunited and a small farming community breathing easier. By midday, the National Armed Forces had neutralized three Al-Shabaab militants and freed 30 people held under duress, among them two women who had been abducted in recent days.
The mission unfolded near Afgooye, a district that has long lived with the shadow of insecurity but continues to show a resilience that defies its hardships. Residents say the operation began quietly, with forces moving in before sunrise to avoid tipping off the captors. What followed was a swift confrontation, carried out in tight coordination by units familiar with the terrain and the tactics of the extremist group.
When the dust settled, the hostages—visibly exhausted but unharmed—were escorted to safety. Many had been forcibly held and compelled to provide support to the militants’ activities in the area. Medical teams and local administrators quickly stepped in, offering care, food, and reassurance as families rushed in to confirm their loved ones were safe.
For the security forces, the rescue marked another step in their expanding efforts to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s networks around the Lower Shabelle region. For Buula Madiina, it was a rare moment of relief after weeks of tension following the kidnappings. Parents clutched their children, neighbors embraced, and a sense of defiance rippled through the community—an unspoken reminder that despite the threats, their resolve has not wavered.
The government has signaled that similar operations will continue as it pushes to reclaim areas where militants still attempt to exert influence. But for those freed on Wednesday, the significance of the day was far simpler: they walked home.