On Sunday night of April 25th 2021, I was called by the late Abdiaziz Afrika,(a veteran journalist who was killed in a suicide blast in Somali capital Mogadishu on 20th November 2021 ) and a teleconversation followed.
After exchange of greeting, he asked:
“Are you alone?
Yes I am alone! “I answered.
“I will tell you sensitive information and I do not want it to leak to the media.
Ok I understand!
“According to the plan, 3 media outlets in Mogadishu will be attacked: Goobjoog, KNN and Mustaqbal Media. The main reason for the planned attack is your constant uses of the term ‘president whose term ended in reference to Farmaajo. The attack is to kill key people in these outlets but now what is being targeted or destroyed is the equipment,that is what I wanted to inform you, bye”! He disconnected.
I wanted to ask more questions but he was done!
It didn’t take much seriousness. Because I thought the government would not be able to carry out those dirty actions for such flimsy reasons.
I called Abwaan Guure and told him about what the late Afrika had told me.
“Hey, you don’t know this guy Farmajo , have you ever been friends with him, worked with him? He responded by asking me those questions.
To just get him to point, I asked him, ” Is that possible brother?
“Even worse things.. will be possible be careful Brother! ”
I did not call kobjoog because I could not buy the narrative that a civilian media which could be taken to court for legal process will be preferred upon with troops and guns.
On Tuesday 27th April 2021, after the morning prayers, as I was reciting the Qur’an in the middle of the room, I heard my phone ringing in the bedroom I closed and ran to respond.
It was the Supervisor of Mustaqbal Media. Since it was very unusual to get a call from him at such a time, I was a little shocked!
“Soldiers from Ahmed Rage’s house are knocking on our door, what can we do?”
What will I say! I do not know what to do? Do I know!
” Open it up and do it carefully, let no one try to be resistant or hostile with them , ask what they want, open the offices, and if the situation is worse find how you can safe yourselves.”
For 10 minutes I did not receive any information about what was going on inside the center, but I informed as many as possible the Ministries of Information, Communications, Hodan District, and two staff members who were at their home and asked them update Facebook, Twitter and their Website- to write a summary of what is ongoing.
The technician called Boy went into the Rooms and Studios and locked himself there up, so he told me what was going on and he could see a little bit but he could hear very well.
It was the ‘ Harma’ad’ special forces led by Fanax, and when the door was opened they began to carry out beatings, punished the workers beastly and damaged studio items.
There were were five staff members in the offices that day and they were beaten thoroughly causing damages and fractures in their body.
Bashir Mohamud Yusuf, a very humble guy and down to earth who was the cheif-editor,a shift editor was beaten badly that morning. When they have seen Bashir is strong enough to be wrestled they strongly trampled him to the ground and stepped on him several times.
He could not resist as they out powered him, he become too weak for the hard beatings they have forced him to load 25 bags of cement on a waiting car in the center and they have asked him to show them the hidden camera and who owns it.
After that they took many equipments from the offices of the Directorate, Administration, Information, Digital and loaded with a waiting police truck with Police logo. Most of the equipment they confiscated were what run the station without which its activities will be paralysed.
Farhan Qarole, the commander of the police force in that station that raided arrived at 7:30 am when the vehicle was packed and our security guard called me and told me the security commander want to talk to you.
We had a brief conversation. “my friend Gutaale where are you?, he roared.
Can you come to us so that we can talk about what had happened and the way we can solve them out”
“I can’t come to you, are you still in the mustaqbal premises?
“yes, we are in mustaqbal.”
“I can’t come to you,just do and finish the dirty business you come there for and even settle there if you so wish.”
“you came to Mustaqbal, beat the staff ,abused them inhumanely with your soldiers and as if that is not enough you loaded everything, every key item, when you can go to the nearest court for legal process. Am I the one remaining (to be treated a such)? I asked him.
It was a difficult period. We took the staff for medical attention and picked our broken pieces.
