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Residents in the Lower Shabelle region are mourning the loss of three brothers who were brutally killed by armed militias while tending to their family farm in the Dudumaaye area of Wanlaweyn district. The attack, which took place earlier this week, has sent shockwaves through the local community and reignited concerns about rising insecurity in rural parts of southern Somalia.
According to residents, the brothers were ordinary farmers, focused on their daily work, and had no connection to any local conflicts or militias. Witnesses believe the attack was a revenge assault linked to ongoing clan tensions in the region. Locals described the killings as both heartbreaking and senseless, noting that the victims were peaceful men known for their hard work and dedication to their families.
“Their only focus was farming and providing for their loved ones,” said one resident who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security fears. “They didn’t deserve this. Now everyone here is afraid, wondering who might be next.”
The killings have left the Dudumaaye community deeply shaken. Many residents are now afraid to return to their farms, fearing further attacks. The area, once known for its productive farmlands, has increasingly become a hotspot for violence and harassment by armed groups who exploit clan rivalries and weak local security structures.
For years, Lower Shabelle has been plagued by instability, with farmers often caught in the middle of broader clan disputes and militant activity. Insecurity has made it difficult for locals to safely cultivate their land, which remains a major source of livelihood for thousands of families. Some farmers have even abandoned their farms entirely, seeking safety in nearby towns or displacement camps.
Community elders and local residents have called on the Somali government and security agencies to take urgent action to prevent similar attacks. They are urging authorities to strengthen security patrols, investigate the killings, and bring the perpetrators to justice. Many feel abandoned, saying that government presence in the area has been minimal, leaving civilians to fend for themselves against armed groups.
“The government must not stay silent,” one elder said. “These people were innocent. If there is no justice, the violence will continue. We need protection so we can live and farm in peace.”
As of Wednesday, neither the Wanlaweyn district administration nor the regional security forces had released an official statement about the incident. No arrests have been made, and it remains unclear which group was behind the attack. This silence has only deepened frustration among residents, who view the lack of response as a sign of indifference from authorities.
The deaths of the three brothers are part of a growing trend of violence in the Lower Shabelle region, where armed militias frequently target farmers for land disputes, extortion, or clan-related revenge. Human rights groups and local observers have repeatedly warned that without stronger government intervention and reconciliation efforts, such killings will continue to threaten both lives and livelihoods.
For the families affected, however, the tragedy goes beyond politics or clan rivalries. What remains is grief, fear, and a community struggling to find peace in the face of repeated loss. The fields that once symbolized hope and survival have now become places of sorrow a painful reminder of how insecurity continues to destroy the very fabric of rural life in Somalia.