Local Residents Aid in Arrests in Dhanane and Qoryaley Villages
Security forces from Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland arrested five well-known Somali pirates and seized two speed boats and other equipment used in hijackings during security operations in Dhanane and Qoryaley villages between Gar’ad and Rasiga-Iliga districts on Thursday night.
Rooble Mohamed Farah, a Puntland security official involved in the operation, told the local media that they succeeded due to cooperation between local residents and security forces.
“We learned that they were from Harardhere district of Mudug region and based themselves there on Wednesday. The residents informed us of their movements,” he said. “Our troops are in Dhanane and Qoryoley and will be there until we make sure the pirates are eliminated.”
Rooble stated that security forces are searching for other wanted pirates who escaped the area.
Reports indicate that the bases where the pirates were captured are strategic coastal villages, from which they wanted to base and plan attacks against foreign warships. The villages had been pirate hubs before the local elders, religious leaders, Puntland authorities and the residents started campaign to eradicate them from the area.
Source: Neptune Maritime Security
