UN official in Baidoa arrested on suspicion of collaborating with al-Shabaab

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Baidoa police on Saturday (December 8th) arrested an employee of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN FAO) suspected of collaborating with al-Shabaab,

Police received reports from residents of Baidoa that the suspect Idris Abdi Dhakhar had been aiding the militant group in regional operations, said Baidoa police chief Colonel Mahad Abdirahman Adan.

"We arrested the suspect shortly after we received reports that he had been indulging and aiding the insurgency group in their operations within the country," Adan said. "We are carrying on investigation against the suspect and as soon as the findings are out, he will be taken to the court of law and charged with aiding the terror group."

Adan said the United Nations has not communicated with Baidoa police regarding the accusations against Dhakhar, though they have been made aware of his arrest.

Prior to Somali forces' liberation of Baidoa in February, al-Shabaab had used the town as a training ground for terrorist operations.