AFMADOW, Somalia – Regional Security forces in southern Somalia said they had detained a suspected member of the militant group Al-Shabaab during a planned operation carried out early Saturday in areas north of the city of Afmadow.
According to officials, troops from the Jubbaland regional administration’s Darawish forces conducted the raid after tracking movements of individuals believed to be hiding in rural areas under the district. The operation targeted locations suspected of being hideouts, where the forces succeeded in capturing one of the individuals believed to be affiliated with Al-Shabaab.
Commanders said the suspect had been hiding in forested terrain on the outskirts of the town. Security forces also carried out sweeping checks across the area to ensure no other members were hiding there.
The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by Jubbaland authorities to strengthen security in Afmadow and surrounding areas, amid continued concerns over militant activity in the wider Lower Juba region.
Security officials said similar operations would continue in the coming days as part of broader measures to maintain stability and prevent insurgent movements.
