Somalia’s elite police unit, Haramcad, announced that it successfully repelled an attack launched by Al-Shabaab militants on the Godka-Jilicow intelligence detention center in the capital, Mogadishu, on Saturday evening.
According to a statement posted on the unit’s official Facebook page, all seven militants involved in the attack were killed, and all detainees held at the facility were safely evacuated.
The targeted site, Godka-Jilicow, is a high-security detention facility operated by the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). State media, Somali National TV (SNTV), reported that the assault began at around 4:40 PM local time and involved a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) disguised as a security forces vehicle.
The attack was believed to be a coordinated attempt by Al-Shabaab to free some of its imprisoned members. Witnesses reported intense gunfire and explosions as the militants tried to breach the facility’s defenses.
In their statement, Haramcad confirmed that two of their officers lost their lives during the operation to secure the area.
The Somali government condemned the attack and praised the swift and decisive response by the Haramcad unit, commending their bravery and dedication to protecting national security.
Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to restoring peace and expressed solidarity with the families of the officers who were killed. They emphasized that such attacks would not derail the ongoing efforts to stabilize the country.
