Mogadishu (Kaab TV) – The Banadir Regional Court on Wednesday ordered the release of several young detainees after finding no evidence of wrongdoing against them.
Those ordered to be released by the court included Abukar Ma’alin, Nimo Keif, Ahmed Bulshawi, and Abdi Abdullahi.
The court further ordered the police commanders overseeing the detention facilities to immediately release the detainees and hand back all confiscated personal belongings, including their mobile phones.
However, reports indicate that the court’s order faced obstruction by the Banadir police who sent back the detainees to prison after being lawfully discharged by the court for lack of evidence.
The Banadir Regional Police Commander, Mahdi Omar Mumin, also known as Ma’alin Mahdi, contacted the (Yaaqshiid) and (Hamar Jajab) police stations and ordered that the youths not be released.
He reportedly claimed that they were being detained under instructions linked to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and could only be freed by his order.
Following the directive, the three male detainees were reportedly returned to the Yaaqshiid police station.
Other reports stated that the commander of the Xamar Jajab police station, Raxmo Sandheer, refused to accept Nimco Keyf when she was brought back to the station, insisting that there was already a court order for her release. As a result, Nimco Keyf was transferred to the Hodan police station.
In a separate case, the court also ordered the release of two bajaj (tuktuk) drivers, Cabdi Dheere and Cabdi Cali. However, they are reportedly still being held at the Hodan police station, and there has been no official confirmation of their release.