Jowhar, Somalia — A tragic roadside bomb explosion in the northern outskirts of Jowhar town on Saturday claimed the lives of three members of the same family, leaving three others critically injured, including the driver. The blast, which occurred in the village of Hantiwadaag as the family was traveling in a civilian vehicle, has sparked outrage and grief across the region.
According to officials from HirShabelle State, the improvised explosive device (IED) targeted the vehicle at approximately 10:15 a.m. local time. The victims, all civilians, were en route to attend a family gathering when the deadly explosion occurred. Among the deceased were a mother, her son, and her elderly father — all pronounced dead at the scene.
The surviving victims, including two children and the driver, were rushed to the Jowhar General Hospital where they remain in critical condition. Doctors say the children suffered severe shrapnel wounds, and emergency surgery was underway as of Sunday morning.
No group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack, but security officials suspect the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab, which frequently targets civilian and government convoys in the region with roadside bombs.
“This was a barbaric and inhumane act. They were innocent people—just a family on the road. Somalia cannot tolerate this kind of brutality any longer,” said Jowhar District Commissioner Ahmed Ali Barre.
The explosion marks the second deadly attack in less than 24 hours in Somalia, following a massacre at Lido Beach in Mogadishu that killed at least 35 and wounded more than 120.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, while condemning both attacks, pledged swift justice. “Our enemies seek to terrorize us, to break the spirit of our people—but we will not be defeated,” he said during a press briefing on Sunday.
Local elders and civil society groups in Jowhar held a candlelight vigil for the victims on Sunday evening, with community members calling for better protection and a strengthened counter-IED strategy in civilian areas.
The Somali National Army (SNA), in coordination with African Union (AU) forces, has increased patrols in the area following the attack, while forensic teams continue to comb the blast site for evidence.
As Somalia mourns yet another senseless loss, the nation is once again reminded of the devastating human cost of extremism — one family, one life at a time.