Al Shabaab militants have captured a United Nations helicopter conveying two Somali men and several foreigners when it made an emergency landing in an area governed by the Islamist group, according to military official on Wednesday.
Major Hassan Ali informed Reuters that the aircraft had ran into a defect shortly after taking off from Beledweyne city in central Somalia, before it landed near Hindhere village, near the Galguduud region.
Two Somali men and several foreigners had been onboard at the time of landing.
The aircraft was also conveying medical supplies and it was supposed to transport injured soldiers from Galguduud region.” he added.
Two UN sources familiar with the matter informed Reuters that the aircraft carried nine passengers.
As at the time of making this report, the identities of those captured or their nationalities haven’t been verified.
Al Shabaab, linked to al Qaeda, has been waging a revolt against the Somali government since 2006 in a bid to institute its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.
While the government has suceeded in warding off the militants from several territories since the mid-2010s, al Shabaab controls swathes of land in southern and central Somalia and the terrorist group have continued to target civilians and stage attacks on military establishments.
The spokes person for the Somalia government and the UN had not immediately responded to requests for comment at this time.
