Al Shabaab terrorists have today kidnapped over 40 pastoralists and farmers from Goof-gaduud village. The terror group has informed the regional authorities that it will release the hostage only if ransom is paid.
Ahmed Aden, the local administrator of Goof-gaduud has confirmed the incident and has called on the national government to intervene and contain Al Shabaab savagery. The local authorities have asserted that they cannot pay the ransom. Al Shabaab is still quite concerning the matter, the first of its kind to occur in Somalia.
A string of military defeats have driven Al Shabaab into desperation as it has lost territories, fighters, financial resources and social clout beside becoming increasingly unpopular in Somalia. To maintain its relevance to the global jihadist front, Al Shabaab has decided to adopt terror tactics currently used by Boko Haram, the brutal Sunni insurgent group based in Nigeria. Boko Haram has used mass kidnapping to spread terror, destroy civilization and garner media coverage. For Al Shabaab, this instance of mass abductions points to financial difficulties and a desperation for media publicity besides showcasing its unreasoned tenacity to punish Somalis who oppose its terrorist ideology.
This new development indicates that Al Shabaab plans to adopt a strategy of intense brutality, extremist rigor and savagery to subdue a population objecting to its rule.
