Buluburde (Caasimada Online) – In an appalling incident of violence blamed on the notorious jihadist group Al-Shabab, a local authority disclosed on Monday that eight civilians tragically lost their lives in central Somalia.

The attack, characterized by an explosion at the roadside, killed an extended family in a community shaken by terror.

This horrific incident unfolded on a Sunday evening in the vicinity of a small hamlet just outside Buloburde, approximately 220 kilometers, or 136 miles, north of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

Sadam Abdi Idow, the mayor of Buloburde, addressed the media, saying, “A woman was among the eight innocents slaughtered by this callous act. The victims, tragically, were all members of the same extended family.”

Al-Shabab behind the attack

In his dialogue with the reporters, Mayor Idow voiced his accusation, pinning the act on the Al-Shabab terror group.

“Having been vanquished in ongoing military offensives in the area, it’s believed these Al-Shabab militants planted the explosive,” he stated.

“The disregard shown by these terrorists towards innocent civilians is beyond reproach.”

Eyewitness accounts attest to the horror of the incident, recounting that seven victims succumbed to injuries while another died.

Abdulkarim Hassan, a resident of Buloburde, shared his profound grief. “This calamity left us stunned. Three of the victims were from one family, and the rest were from another, but kinship ties bound all,” he lamented.

Al-Shabab: A resilient threat

Al-Shabab, which pledges allegiance to Al-Qaeda, has been waging a bloody insurgency since 2007 to overthrow the foreign-backed government based in Mogadishu.

Driven out from Mogadishu in 2011, Al-Shabab continues to pose a significant threat.

The group remains deadly despite a major offensive last August that saw a combined force of pro-government troops, African Union soldiers, and US air strikes.

The incident near Buloburde came in the aftermath of a prolonged armed clash in the region, as reported by military sources.

“Following their defeat in the armed standoff, these terrorists vented their spite on the unsuspecting civilians by planting a landmine on the main thoroughfare frequented by locals,” Ahmed Ali, a senior Somali military official, conveyed over a phone call.