Mohamed Jama Hala, commander of Puntland’s Darvish forces in Galgala, was assassinated by gunmen in Bosaso, a port city in Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland, on Tuesday.
“Unidentified men armed with pistols attacked the commander and shot him dead," Ahmed Mohamed, an eyewitness told Somalia Report. “The gunmen fled from the scene before security forces arrived and cordoned off the area for investigation."
Darvish forces are units of Puntland's police trained as military forces.
Violence in Puntland Increasing
Puntland authorities have not yet commented on the latest killing despite concerns from the residents of Bosaso and other main towns of Puntland on the escalating violence in the region.
On Monday Ahmed Elmi Osman (alias Gatah), Commissioner of Israac district in Galkayo, was assassinated in Puntland's Galkayo town by unidentified gunmen.
On Saturday, Mohamed Arobe, a prominent businessman and car-dealer was assassinated in Garsoor district of Galkayo by an unidentified gunmen who fled after the killing.
Early last month, Hassan Hussein Aw-Mohamed (Walore), a prominent elder was assassinated by unidentified armed men in Galkayo as he left a nearby mosque after evening prayers.
Violence, organized crime, and killings have drastically increased in Puntland and in Galkayo alone at least 12 people including businessman, elders and judges have been assassinated by unknown gunmen in the last two years.
Puntland formed in 1998 was known to be relatively calm but in the recent years its main cities including Galkayo, Garowe and Bosaso have witnessed waves of criminal activities and killings.
Just because your regions don't have a Military Commander you should not hate others.
