MOGADISHU (KAAB TV) – Allegations of widespread human rights abuses have emerged against the Banadir Regional Police, operating under the command of Commander Mahdi Omar Mu’min.
According to multiple eyewitnesses and video evidence, the police have been involved in a systematic campaign of displacement, violence, and intimidation across several areas in Mogadishu.
Commander Mahdi Omar Mu’min has reportedly overseen aggressive operations targeting civilians in locations such as the Fire Station area, the Steel Factory, the Horse Camp, Oodweyne, Radar, and the Sinai Market.
These operations have resulted in mass displacement, injuries, killings, and acts of torture, particularly against vulnerable populations including women, children, and the elderly.
One of the most disturbing incidents occurred yesterday in the Sinai Market, where a KAAB TV camera captured footage of a woman and an elderly man being tortured.
Following the exposure, Commander Mu’min allegedly arrested several soldiers—ironically, the same individuals he had deployed—seemingly in an attempt to mislead the public and deflect accountability.
Despite the arrests made in this high-profile case, many believe they were only carried out because the abuse was caught on camera. In contrast, no action has been taken for incidents not recorded.
For example, no arrests have been made regarding the six civilians reportedly killed in the Horseed Camp, nor for the shooting of a young boy in the Radar area the previous night. This selective response raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.
Local sources argue that the soldiers executing these brutal operations are not acting independently but are following direct orders from their commanders. As one observer put it, “The soldier is not the one at fault—it is the commander who issues the orders who must be held accountable.”
Some government forces are now being described by residents as ruthless, devoid of humanity or moral responsibility. These units are said to wake up each morning with the sole aim of evicting and terrorizing impoverished communities, often under the pretext of enforcing security or reclaiming land.
All the areas currently under forceful occupation and those suffering displacement appear to be linked to operations sanctioned by the Banadir Regional Police, under the leadership of Commander Mahdi Omar Mu’min.
Critics claim that rather than protecting the public, the force has become a tool of oppression against the very citizens it is meant to serve.
As public outrage grows, civil society groups and human rights organizations are calling for an independent investigation into these abuses and for the government to take immediate action to halt the displacement of civilians and hold those responsible accountable.