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Africa News of Friday, 29 May 2020

Source: bbc.com

Outrage over kidnapping and killing of Somali medics

A commission is to be set up to investigate the killings A commission is to be set up to investigate the killings

The United Nations office in Somalia has described the abduction and killing of seven health workers and a civilian as an outrage.

The kidnapping on Wednesday happened hours after an explosion targeted a Somali military vehicle in the area.

It is not yet clear who was behind the attack.

A relative of one of the victims said masked men arrived in a minibus at the clinic in Gololey village, about 30km (19 miles) north of the capital, Mogadishu.

They seized seven health workers - blindfolded them and tied their hands behind their backs.

Another person was also abducted from his home.

The eight bodies were found on Thursday - they had all been shot in the head and chest.

The president of the Hirshabelle state said a commission would be set up to investigate the killings.

Although the jihadist group al-Shabab is active in the area it has not said it was behind the attack and the Somali government has denied the military was involved.