The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) strongly condemns the murder of a Radio journalist in Mogadishu.
Abdihared Osman Adan, 45, who had been working as a newscaster at Radio Shabelle, was murdered at around 7:10am local time by three men armed with pistols in Wadajir district, according to Radio Shabelle management. Adan was attacked few minutes after he left his home to the Radio Station to broadcast morning news.
“We condemn the murder of Abdihared Osman Adan, and our sympathies are with the family and colleagues at Radio Shabelle for his murder,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.
Adan is one of the few journalists working for Radio Shabelle who dared not to sleep in the premises of the radio station while most of headquarter-based journalists live within the premises in fear of their security.
Abdimalik Yusuf, Chairman of Radio Shabelle, has bemoaned the journalist’s death and called on Somali authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter.
In an interview with Radio Shabelle, NUSOJ Secretary General Omar Faruk Osman yesterday called on the federal government of Somalia to special force dedicated for the protection of journalists.
“We demand the appropriate authorities to investigate this murder, punish those responsible, and take all necessary measures so that journalists can practice their work in safe conditions,” added Osman.
Adan left a mother and two children. He is the first journalist murdered in this year in Somalia and the ninth journalist murdered from Radio Shabelle since January 2007. Radio Shabelle journalists are the most targeted journalists in any media house in Somalia.