Somalia probes prison clashes as death toll rises

LUCIANO John (26) of Dawmil Farm, Bindura, committed suicide by hanging after a misunderstanding with his wife over food. When NewsDay arrived at the John’s homestead on Monday, scores of people were milling around waiting for police to retrieve the body from the roof trusses where it was hanging.

Mashonaland Central deputy police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Fidelis Dhewu confirmed the case.

“I can confirm that the now-deceased John had a misunderstanding with his wife Pina Chibanda (30), who packed her bags and left the home before John committed suicide by hanging himself with an electric cable,” Dhewu said.

A witness John John told NewsDay that his brother was failing to provide enough food for the family and when his wife left, he killed himself.

“My brother was finding it difficult to fend for the family and his wife packed her bags and left for her mother’s house. Soon after her departure, he took an electric cable and hung himself,” explained the brother.

“I discovered the dead body when l entered his room and advised my father Peter John (49), who then filed a police report.”

MOGADISHU The Somali government on Tuesday launched investigations into a violent incident at Mogadishu’s central prison on Monday which left at least 15 al-Shabab inmates and four soldiers dead.

Hassan Hussein Haji, Justice Minister, said the investigation is underway to determine how the incident took place at the central prison in Mogadishu.

The minister said they would immediately share the outcome of the investigations with the public to help establish the circumstances under which such a rare incident took place. Haji said the authorities managed to arrest some of the fighters.

“The investigations would reveal how the inmates got the weapons,” he said, warning that whoever is found culpable would face the full force of law.

“Some of the inmates committed a criminal act after receiving weapons and fought with prison guards. We are investigating who facilitated prisoners to get the weapon that resulted in the casualties.”

He said the government will come up with proper policies and measures to protect the safety of inmates and guards in the future.