By: Yusuf M Hasan
BURAO (Somalilandsun) – The home of a Toghdeer politician is in shambles after officers of the Rapid Reaction Unit-RRU ransacked it during a midnight raid at the residence.
According to Ifrah Diriye Buudle, the spouse of Ex-deputy Toghdeer regional governor Guleid Dahir Samatar, her husband is in police custody after he was arrested by the crack RRU in a midnight raid at their house in Burao town that also saw some of her children sustain injuries both physical and emotional.
Though it is yet too divulged on the reasons behind the detention of the Toghdeer politician rumours circulating indicate connection with riots that took place in Odweine town that ensued after residents disputed a decision to bar a local councilor from addressing a public meeting chaired by presidency minister Hirsi Haji Ali.
The now in detention Guleid Dahir was in the news last week after a ministerial team dispatched to quell riots by Burao residents summoned him, Guleid, for questioning purportedly to assuage suspicions of his having organized and funded the demonstrations that ensued with a death and injuries after residents protested the replacement of regional Police commander Major Ilka’ase.
While demonstrations are right enshrined in the constitution which also gives the government authority to maintain law and order the continued mayhem meted upon citizens by the crack British trained RRU needs to be evaluated in view that deaths or at the least injuries to civilians occur whenever the unit is on duty at public demonstrations be they licensed or otherwise.
Despite this fact it is worth mentioning that the RRU is specifically trained in counter terrorism activities thus not in crowd control and should not therefore be dispatched for other duties related to peaceful civilians with no terrorism intents.
