Armed gunmen on Monday reportedly abducted seven vehicles traveling from Mogadishu to Galkayo in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle province, in what local sources describe as a “revenge operation” linked to a recent dispute over looted khat.
Eyewitnesses and residents say the ambush occurred along a key transit route, heightening tensions in a region already struggling with insecurity and inter-clan rivalries. The attackers allegedly diverted the vehicles to an undisclosed location, though no casualties have been reported so far.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the incident stems from an unresolved conflict in neighboring Hiiraan province, where vehicles carrying khat—an addictive stimulant plant—were previously looted. The current abductions are believed to be retaliatory in nature.
Neither the Federal Government of Somalia nor officials from the HirShabelle State have issued a statement regarding the attack. Local elders are reportedly attempting to mediate the situation and recover the vehicles.
The incident highlights the fragile security situation in central Somalia, where informal power structures and unresolved grievances often fuel cycles of retribution and violence.