MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – The Wednesday attack on leaders of the Somali Salvation Forum, while visiting the Warta Nabadda police station in Mogadishu, has highlighted the dangers facing all segments of society.
The shooting incident began after opposition leaders attempted to secure the release of civilians who had been abducted from the Siinaay neighborhood and held at the station.
Among those forcibly detained was 80-year-old elder Ahmed Siicow Mohamed, who appeared in social media videos being severely beaten by National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) officers, dragged on the ground until he lost consciousness.
NISA, accompanied by police officers, was carrying out orders to forcibly evict residents from the Siinaay area. This led to soldiers storming homes, beating women, children, and the elderly. Images circulated on social media showed several injured women, including a pregnant woman.
One appalling incident involved an 80-year-old Somali man whose home was demolished in broad daylight.
The victim testified that the bulldozer that tore down his home physically lifted him into the air, which means that neither the police nor the driver of the bulldozer cared… pic.twitter.com/2xWwvHxJQl
— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) September 26, 2025
Much of the land seized from displaced civilians in Mogadishu is handed over to wealthy businessmen. However, the revenue generated does not go to the state treasury, but instead into the pockets of individuals.
Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, opposition MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, and other opposition figures went to the Warta Nabadda police station and stood at the gate, demanding access to see the detained civilians.
According to journalists accompanying them, police officers led by the Banadir Regional Police Commander, Mahdi Omar Muumin (known as Macallin Mahdi), opened fire on the opposition leaders and the journalists present at the gate.
The attack left three people dead and seven others wounded. At least one of the victims was a young high school girl who was struck by stray bullets near her school.
After the incident, opposition leaders held a press conference at the Jazeera Hotel, claiming they had survived an assassination attempt.
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed stated: “When we arrived at the station’s gate, we asked to be allowed in to see the injured civilians. When we were blocked, we decided to hold a press conference there. Immediately, gunfire erupted.”
Sharif added that his private vehicle was directly targeted by gunfire: “I do not carry guns in my car. You can understand the intent—it was a deliberate attempt to kill us,” he said.
Former Prime Minister Khaire also described the attack as a premeditated attempt on their lives.
One of his bodyguards, Liibaan Hashi Abdullahi, was shot dead while inside a vehicle.
Khaire further said that another car in his convoy was hit with an RPG and burned at the scene.
On the government side, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre accused the opposition of staging an attempted coup and praised the security forces for opening fire on the opposition leaders.
That same day, the opposition announced a protest against the government, particularly condemning President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s eviction of civilians from the capital. The planned protest heightened security tensions, with heavily armed forces deployed around the homes of opposition leaders, especially in the KM4 area leading to Aden Adde International Airport.
Minister of Internal Security Gen. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag and Banadir Governor Hassan Hussein Moongab warned in a joint press conference that security forces would take strict action against any demonstration not authorized by the government.
Meanwhile, reports indicated that opposition-aligned soldiers from the Somali National Army (SNA) entered Mogadishu on Thursday to protect opposition leaders and support the planned Saturday protest, which was later called off.
Mogadishu, already plagued by insecurity and mass displacement, is now facing heightened political tensions that have instilled fresh fear among residents. Many citizens worry that the federal government is sliding toward authoritarianism, using military force against opposition leaders instead of focusing efforts on the fight against Al-Shabaab.