The head of Galmudug’s security forces was killed when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) hit the vehicle carrying him on February 7.
Colonel Abdirashid Abdinur Qooje, the head of Dhusamareb District Security Committee, was in his car when the bomb exploded on Sunday morning.
Security sources believe that the bomb specifically targeted the vehicle carrying Col. Qooje and his entourage.
The incident took place between the Galmudug capital city and Eldhere, which is in the Galgadud Region.
At the time of the incident, Col. Qooje and his team were conducting a security operation in the region.
Qooje and 11 soldiers lost their lives on the spot.
A report by pro-Al-Shabaab media outlet said that the Al-Qaeda linked group had claimed responsibility for the attack.