Sunday April 6, 2025 {HMC} Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has condemned the killing of Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nur Mohamed Gaabow, widely known as Nur Farey, the commander of the 14th of October Brigade of the Somali National Army (SNA), who was fatally shot on Saturday in Lower Shabelle.
In a statement issued Saturday night, President Mohamud described the slain officer as a “patriotic and devoted soldier” who sacrificed his life for the defense of Somalia and the freedom of its people.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family, relatives, the Somali National Army, and the entire Somali nation following the death of Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nur Mohamed Gaabow (Nur Farey),” the President said.
President Mohamud emphasized that the federal government has launched a thorough investigation into the killing.
Military officials said the commander was shot dead while addressing troops during a routine inspection in Ado-Diidible, between Afgooye and Laanta Buure, in preparation for a major offensive against Al-Shabaab.
“A man dressed in military uniform suddenly opened fire on the commander,” one senior SNA officer said, adding that the gunman’s identity remains unknown.
Security forces are investigating whether the attacker was an infiltrator posing as a soldier or a member of the military.
President Mohamud reaffirmed the government’s commitment to intensifying the fight against Al-Shabaab, which is designated a terrorist organization by Somalia, the United Nations, and the United States. The killing comes amid a renewed push by federal and regional forces to retake Al-Shabaab strongholds in southern Somalia.
