Puntland police arrest Garowe killing suspect within two days, reinforcing the rule of law

The swift arrest following a deadly shooting in Garowe offers a clear example of how law enforcement can help prevent clan-based revenge killings and ensure that criminal disputes are resolved through the courts, not retaliation.

GAROWE (WDN) — Puntland police have arrested Mowliid Siciid Warsame, known as Dhakhare, who is suspected of killing three people and injuring three others in a shooting in Garowe on Sunday, October 11, 2026.

In a statement, Puntland Police said officers from the Nugaal regional command, working with their counterparts in Sool, apprehended the suspect in the Jidhaan area near Carooley, in Sool region. The arrest came within two days of the attack near Garowe’s Inji market.

Police said the suspect would be handed over to the relevant judicial authorities for legal proceedings. He remains an accused person, and his guilt must be determined through due process.

The swift operation is significant in a society where deadly violence can trigger clan-based retaliation, turning an individual criminal act into a wider cycle of revenge. When families or clans take justice into their own hands, further deaths can follow, deepening mistrust and threatening community stability.

The law must come before clan allegiance

The Garowe killings underscore the importance of a consistent principle: no individual, family or clan should stand above the law, and no grievance justifies taking revenge outside the judicial system.

When a killing occurs, the responsibility for identifying suspects, gathering evidence and determining guilt belongs to law enforcement agencies and the courts. Relatives of victims deserve justice, but justice must be pursued through lawful procedures rather than retaliatory violence.

Clan-based revenge killings undermine public security and weaken confidence in state institutions. They can also punish people who had no involvement in the original crime, perpetuating a cycle in which one killing becomes the justification for another.

Governments therefore have a responsibility not only to arrest suspects, but also to prevent reprisals, protect threatened communities, investigate crimes impartially and ensure that prosecutions proceed without undue delay.

An example for Somalia’s federal member states

Puntland police’s arrest of the suspect within two days demonstrates the value of prompt coordination between regional police commands. The operation offers a practical example for other federal member states seeking to strengthen public safety and prevent criminal cases from escalating into clan conflicts.

The next test will be whether the authorities preserve the evidence, conduct a fair investigation and bring the case before a competent court. Police action must be followed by an effective judicial process, while authorities should remain alert to any threat of retaliatory attacks.

The federal government and state administrations should reinforce the same message nationwide: disputes involving killings must be resolved through the rule of law, not clan power, collective punishment or revenge.

The arrest in Garowe is an important first step. Lasting justice will depend on a fair trial, protection against retaliation and a firm commitment to ensuring that the law—not clan allegiance—stands at the apex of every dispute.

WardheerNews