By HAN News Desk
LOWER SHABELLE – A shocking and brutal killing has taken place in a village in Lower Shabelle region, where an elderly man — believed to be nearly 60 years old — was tortured and burned alive by a group of armed youths and local residents.
According to witnesses and video footage circulating on social media, the incident began when a mob of armed men and civilians, wielding sticks and stones, captured the elderly man under unclear circumstances. He was reportedly accused of being linked to a rival group, though no evidence was provided to support the claim.
Eyewitness accounts describe a horrifying scene in which the elderly man, bound and defenseless, pleaded for his life, urging his attackers to “shoot me and let me die peacefully”, saying that he was “not your enemy but a fellow Somali brother.” Despite his cries for mercy, the mob continued to beat him relentlessly before tying him to a tree and setting him on fire.
Video clips of the gruesome killing have sparked outrage and condemnation among Somalis online, with many describing it as one of the most barbaric acts seen in recent years. Commentators and activists have called for an immediate investigation and the arrest of those involved.
Local elders in the region have also expressed shock, saying the killing represents a dangerous moral and social breakdown in Somali society. One elder told HAN News, “What we saw was not justice, it was cruelty. No human being deserves such treatment — this goes against our religion, our culture, and our humanity.”
Human rights observers have warned that mob justice and extrajudicial killings are on the rise in parts of southern Somalia, driven by weak law enforcement, clan tensions, and growing distrust in the justice system.
Analysts say the incident highlights a deepening social crisis in conflict-affected areas where the rule of law has collapsed, and local communities often take justice into their own hands.
As of Saturday evening, Somali authorities had not yet commented on the killing or announced any steps to investigate the perpetrators.
Human rights activists are urging the Federal Government of Somalia and regional security forces to intervene, warning that failure to respond could embolden further acts of violence and undermine efforts to restore stability and respect for human rights in the region.
