Al Shabaab Coordinating Insurgency Against Ethiopians With ONLF-Official, Five Shabaab Suspects Out On Sh1 Million Bond

                             Four suspected members of Al Shabaab, the Islamic insurgent group, were captured (file photo)

Hudur — Federal Government ofSomalia for the first time disclosed that Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab group is coordinating insurgency with Ethiopia's separatist rebel of ONLF,terror free somalia   reports.

The Governor of Bakool region of southwestern Somalia Mohamed Abdi Tool said, hundreds of ONLF fighters crossed the border into Somalia to fight alongside Al Shabaab in the border areas. He noted that Al Shabaab cooperated with ONLF on the recent deadly battles in Aato village on Somalia-Ethiopia border which has been a spot for mass insurgency over the last week.

Continuing, Bakool Governor told that ONLF fighters were keen to move into Ethiopia and acknowledged the involvement of Liyuu Police from Somali regional state of Ethiopia in Aato fighting. ONLF strongly contested reports of ties with Somalia's Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab militants who are in full force campaign to topple Mogadishu-based central government.

Five Shabaab Suspects Out On Sh1 Million Bond

HE Lamu law courts yesterday released five suspected al Shabaab members arrested in Lamu West district on bond. The five, most of whom said are below 18 years, were arrested by police in Bargoni on May 25.

The prosecution told the court Said Shee 16, Abeid Said, 19, Harun Omar ,17, Abdalla Faraj, 20, and Musa Mohamed, 28, were making arrangements to travel to Somali to join the al Shabaab terror group.

They were nabbed by police who had been monitoring their movements following a tip-off from the public. The five denied the charges and were released on a Sh1 million bond each with a surety of a similar amount.

"You will come for the mention of your case on June 10, so that the ages of those of you claim are underage can be determined. You have a right to choose a lawyer to represent you," said senior resident magistrate David Ireri.

The case will be heard on June 18. In the same court, a middle-aged man was released on bond for peddling narcotics. Daniel Wachira, 28, was on May 26 at Hindi village in Lamu West district found with three Bhang rolls worth ShI,500 hidden under his shirt. He denied the charge and was released on Sh200,000 bond. The case will be mentioned on May 18. The hearing was setfor July 1.