Reports from Beledweyne, the capital of Somalia’s Hiraan region, indicate that Ustad Hassan Shanlo, a respected educator and former principal of Beledweyne School, has reportedly been abducted on the outskirts of the city.
According to local sources, the incident occurred near the Guufaale Teacher Training Center, a facility where Shanlo currently serves as an administrator overseeing teacher training programs.
Preliminary reports say he was traveling in a vehicle with several other passengers when armed men intercepted them along the road.
Witness accounts suggest that the gunmen removed Shanlo from the vehicle and allowed the remaining passengers to continue their journey. The educator was then reportedly taken to an unknown location. His whereabouts remain unclear.
Local sources have linked the incident to a possible clan-related dispute, although no official confirmation has been provided and the motive behind the abduction remains uncertain.
Authorities in Hiraan and the Hirshabelle State administration have not yet issued a formal statement regarding the case.
Ustad Hassan Shanlo is widely known in Beledweyne for his contributions to education and teacher development.
He previously served as principal of one of the city’s prominent schools and has more recently been involved in training teachers through educational programs aimed at improving learning standards in the region.
The reported abduction has sparked concern among educators, students and residents of Beledweyne, a city that serves as the administrative center of Hiraan and a key hub for education and commerce in central Somalia.
Security incidents, including kidnappings and clan-related disputes, have occasionally affected travel routes and communities surrounding the city.
Residents and community leaders are calling on authorities to intensify efforts to locate Shanlo and secure his safe release, while awaiting official information about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.