The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has strongly condemned the killing of television journalist in northern Somalia.
Ahmed Farah Ilyas, widely known Saakin, a reporter working for Universal TV, was gunned down in a targeted attack on Tuesday night, at around 22hrs (22 October) in Las Anod district of Sool region.
Ahmed Farah Ilyas, 27, was heading home from work when unknown armed men opened fire on him. He passed away on the spot. Security forces immediately arrived the scene of the crime and registered a case against “unidentified gunmen”.
“We condemn the killing of Ahmed Farah Ilyas. Journalists are being targeted for their work, and they are performing their duties under the most trying times,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.
NUSOJ termed it as a conspiracy against journalists and demanded the authorities to unveil the conspiracy and expose the perpetrators of the crime. Journalists in various districts of Sool and Sanag regions are providing information and reporting without any salary and on top of it were being threatened by various elements, some of them associated with Puntland and Somaliland authorities.
Local journalists told NUSOJ that armed groups are threatening journalists in Las Anod but both authorities are taking no step for their protection.
The deceased journalist, who left a wife, is the sixteenth journalist to be killed in Somalia since January this year and had been associated with journalism for the last 8 years.
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