Hiiraan Online
Thursday February 18, 2016
MOGADISHU (HOL) - Security forces with a regional state in central Somalia freed a Kenyan doctor who was held captive by Somali pirates since late 2014, officials said Wednesday.
Mohamud Aden Osman, the information minister of Galmudug state told reporters that security forces responding to a tip-off about the hostage’s whereabouts raided a house occupied by pirates near Adado town, freeing James Gajumbo who was chained inside a house.
“Our troops rescued the Kenyan doctor as parts of efforts aimed pacifying Galmudug territory.” He said.
No causalities have so far been reported as soldiers later moved the freed Kenyan citizen to safety before he’s flown to Nairobi.Mr. Gajumbo who was abducted by pirates in November 2014 was among few hostages still in pirates’ hands following the sharp decline of piracy attacks off Somali coasts.
However, a recent report by the United Nations Somalia and Eritrea monitoring group warned that piracy attacks that caused havoc to international shipping movements off Somalia’s coast over the past decade may return if illegal foreign fishing, worth an annual $306 million is stopped.
Growing local resentment risks a revival of the piracy epidemic that roiled the region from about 2001 to 2012, the group said.