The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has today demanded the immediate and unconditional release of a local journalist, who was kidnapped in the fringes of Mogadishu.

On Saturday morning, 1 April 2017, unidentified gunmen kidnaped journalist Hanad Ali Guled who is working for privately owned Goobjoog Television of Goobjoog Media Group.

Guled was driven to unspecified place and is reportedly detained in small room, according to his family following brief call he made after the incident. Attempts by members of his family and fellow colleagues to establish his whereabouts have been fruitless.

The purpose behind the abduction of Guled is imprecise, but colleagues working with him reportedly stated that he has been receiving threats through the telephone over drought relief programme, Media for Aid, he has been involved in.

“The abduction of Hanad Ali Guled is deeply alarming. Free Hanad Ali Guled now and stop this cat-and-mouse coercion of journalists and other media workers,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General. “Security authorities must urgently institute a search operation and do all within their power to ensure his safe return.”

NUSOJ reminded media owners that they have duty of care to their employees, and should take all steps which are reasonably possible to ensure safety, security and wellbeing of journalists and other media workers.

“Kidnapping is dangerously a new phenomenon against local journalists. Those who victimise journalists are stopping at nothing,” added Osman.