LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A suicide bomb in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, has killed at least 13 soldiers and injured at least 20 others inside a military academy.
The attack earlier today, claimed by the Al-Shabaab militant group, is a recent one amongst the continuous deadly raids.
In recent weeks, with the military campaign against them stalled as the army prepared a second phase of the offensive, al-Shabaab fighters had stepped up their attacks.
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In late May, they reportedly killed at least 54 Ugandan peacekeepers at a base south of Mogadishu. For nearly two weeks, they laid siege to Baidoa, one of the country’s largest cities.
A soldier at Mogadishu’s military hospital who identified himself simply as Ahmed said he had the bodies of 13 soldiers who were killed and 20 more that were wounded in the blast.
According to a Captain, Ali Farah, the victims, who hailed from the Lower Shabelle region and had come to the capital for training at Jale Siyaad military academy.
“The soldiers were being counted in the queue when the suicide bomber blew himself up,” Farah said.
He added that he was aware of 10 deaths so far.
Al Shabaab said in a statement that the bomber had killed 73 soldiers and wounded 124 others. The group typically gives casualty figures that are significantly higher than those provided by the authorities.