Al-Shabaab kidnap healthcare workers in Somalia’s Hiiraan region

Al Shabaab terrorists kidnapped five healthcare professionals and a civilian man in Somalia’s central Hiiraan region on Tuesday afternoon, according to local media on Wednesday.

The abduction took place on Tuesday evening along the road linking the region’s towns of Farlibah and Baledweyne.

The medical workers reportedly work for a local NGO knowns as Wardi and were just returning from providing essential medical services to residents in Farlibah when they were abducted.

The whereabouts of the kidnapped civilians is unknown but government authorities said efforts to secure their release are ongoing.

It is in Hiiraan region where anti-terror offensive operations begun with the help of local clan militias known as Macawiisley. Although the region is now largely under the government control, the Al-Qaeda linked group is still able to carry out hit and run attacks against government forces and civilian targets.