Saturday 5,April 2025 {HMC} The commander of the 14th of October Division of the Somali National Army (SNA), Brigadier Nur Mohamed Gaabow, widely known as Nur Farey was assassinated in the Ado-Diidible area of Lower Shabelle on Saturday.
Military sources said the killing occurred as Brigadier Nur was addressing troops during a routine inspection ahead of an anticipated offensive against Al-Shabaab. A man in military uniform suddenly opened fire on the commander, fatally shooting him on the spot.
The attacker’s identity remains unknown, and security officials are investigating whether the assailant was an infiltrator disguised in SNA fatigues or an insider.
“We are thoroughly probing the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Brigadier Nur Gaabow,” a senior SNA officer said.
The death of Brigadier Nur marks a serious setback for Somalia’s counter-insurgency operations in the Lower Shabelle region.
The federal government has not yet issued an official statement. Still, the incident comes amid an ongoing military buildup aimed at launching large-scale operations in Lower and Middle Shabelle to drive Al-Shabaab out of its remaining strongholds.
