STORY: al-Shabaab hostages rescued by IJA security

forces and AMISOM

TRT: 02.06
SOURCE: AU/UN IST
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CREDIT REQUIRED: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION SERVICES
LANGUAGE: SOMALI/NATS
DATELINE: 30
th
MAY 2014/KISMAYU/ SOMALIA
SHOTLIST:
1. Wide shot, IJA security forces on patrol.
2. Med shot, security forces seen moving back.
3. Wide shot, security forces seen coming back from rescue.
4. Med shot, security forces celebrating while driving into Kismayu
5. Wide shot, security forces on patrol near Kismayo Airport.
6. Med shot, of some the women rescued by the IJA Security forces alighting from
vehicles near Kismayu airport.
7. Med shot, security forces stand outside the Airport.
8. Close up shot, rescued women stand near the vehicle.
9. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Mohamed Ahmed Yussuf one of rescued hostages:
We were ambushed by Al-Shabaab militia in a place called Qandal. They were
almost ten in number. They kidnaped us and confiscated our cellphones and
drove us far taking us round and round all day. We dont know where they took
us. The soldiers rescued us.
10. Wide shot, rescued women seen with the security forces
11. Close up, one of the soldiers who rescued the civilians.
12. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Col. Gabobe Hassan Bare, IJA security forces
operations officer:
Civilians were kidnaped from Jubbaland, many of whom were going about their
day to day businesses. We went after the kidnapers and safely rescued the
hostages.
13. IJA Force Commander Brigadier General Ismail Sahardiid with his soldiers
welcoming the rescued civilians.
14. Close up, two of IJA security forces who rescued the civilians.
15. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Brigadier General Ismail Sahardiid, IJA Force
Commander:
Our forces were supported by AMISOM aerial surveillance. After tracking the
kidnapers, at long last with the help of the God, we successfully rescued the
civilian hostages who numbered 30. We burnt one vehicle of the Al-Shabaab
kidnapers.
16. Med shot, soldiers in a joyful mood after the rescue.
17. Med shot, soldiers boarding the vehicles.

STORY:
Some 30 civilian hostages who were on Friday morning kidnapped from a village
near Kismayu town were later rescued in a daring operation involving around
200 Interim Juba Administration forces (IJA) aided by AMISOM Kenya Defence
Forces air surveillance capability.
The hostages were driven under duress to the al Shabaab stronghold of Jilib
using different routes that the victims could not identify.
Their movements were however detected by the AMISOM KDF air surveillance
team, who worked in close coordination with the IJA forces.
The forces then surrounded the area forcing the terrorists to flee, leaving the 30
civilians unhurt.
The freed hostages were brought to Kismayu in a convoy of over 15 vehicles to
their huge relief of the families and friends.
The hostages, all of whom were women and men khat vendors, said the
terrorists kept threatening to slit their throat or cut off their limbs, during the
ordeal, accusing them of spying for the Somalia Federal Government and
AMISOM.
We were ambushed by al-Shabaab militia in a place called Qandal. They were
almost ten in number. They kidnaped us and confiscated our cellphones and
drove us far taking us round and round all-day. We dont know where they took
us. The soldiers rescued us, says Mohamed Ahmed Yussuf one of rescued
hostages.
Brigadier General Ismail Sahardid, the Chief of Staff for the Interim Juba
Administration in Kismayu, which is a federal state within Somalia thanked
AMISOM and the local community for their support in tracking down the al-
Shabaab kidnappers and finally rescuing the hostages.
Our forces were supported by AMISOM aerial surveillance. After tracking the
kidnapers at long last with the help of the God we successfully rescued the
civilian hostages who numbered 30. We burnt one vehicle of the Al-Shabaab
kidnapers, the Brigadier General said, speaking after the forces arrived in
Kismayu.
Al-Shabaab terrorists have resorted to such acts of kidnap and extortion rackets
in order to raise funds for their callous activities since losing out most of their
major economic hubs like Kismayu, Marka and other cities in Somalia that have
since been liberated by joint AMISOM and the Somalia National Army.
As the hostages finally reunited with their loved ones back in Kismayu, women
cuddled and shared tears of joy together while the men raised their clinched fists
shouting victory to Jubaland, victory to Somalia, victory to AMISOM, down with
Al-Shabaab.
Kismayu, one of the key strategic towns of Somalia was rescued from al Shabaab
terror in 2012 through joint operations by the Somali National Army and
AMISOM troops.
END.