Friday June 20, 2025

Las Anod (HOL) – The President of SSC-Khaatumo, Abdikadir
Ahmed Ali Firdhiye, has strongly condemned the gang rape and torture of two
sisters in Las Anod, describing the attack as a heinous crime that has deeply
shaken the community.

In a statement issued on Thursday, President Firdhiye
commended the swift response of SSC-Khaatumo’s security forces, who arrested 23
suspects in connection with the incident. One suspect remains at large and is
being actively pursued.

“The SSC-Khaatumo administration is firmly committed to
defending the dignity and rights of women,” said Firdhiye. “The perpetrators
are now in custody, and we are determined to ensure justice is served swiftly
and without leniency. We will not allow such an atrocity to ever happen again
in our community.”

President Firdhiye criticized law enforcement for allowing
one of the suspects to sit for national certificate exams while in custody,
calling it “a disgrace to SSC-Khaatumo and the innocent girls who were
violated.” He promised that those responsible for this decision would be held
accountable.

The President also voiced support for peaceful public
protests that erupted in Las Anod following the attack, acknowledging the
public’s right to express outrage. However, he condemned the destruction of
businesses and public property, warning that “there are individuals exploiting
this tragedy to fuel unrest and chaos in the city.”

The assault occurred around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, June 14,
2025, and has drawn widespread condemnation from civil society, community
leaders, and Somali citizens online. The SSC-Khaatumo Police Command pledged to
release the names and photos of the suspects to promote transparency and public
trust.