Afgooye (Dawan Africa) – Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has announced the arrest of two senior members of the Al-Shabaab militant group during a night-time operation conducted on Saturday in the town of Afgooye, located in the Lower Shabelle region.
In an official statement released today, NISA confirmed that its elite Gaashaan unit apprehended one operative who was in charge of collecting extortion payments for Al-Shabaab, and another who served in the group’s intelligence wing, accused of gathering sensitive information on government forces and coordinating targeted assassinations.
“The arrest of this extortion financier follows a warning issued by NISA on July 20, which made it clear that the collection and payment of such funds constitutes terrorist financing and violates both national and international law,” the statement read.
The Somali government has repeatedly warned businesses and civilians against paying extortion money to Al-Shabaab, stressing that such payments directly support terrorist activities.
“NISA once again urges all Somali citizens to immediately report any threats, intimidation, or extortion attempts to national security authorities,” the agency added.
The Afgooye raid is part of a broader federal campaign to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s financial and operational networks within major towns and cities. Government officials have pledged to maintain pressure on the group, with a particular focus on protecting civilians living in vulnerable areas.
NISA did not disclose further details regarding the identities of the captured operatives or whether international partners were involved in the operation. However, the Somali government reiterated its commitment to “eliminating all threats to national security.”
