by Hashi
MOGADISHU, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A senior Al-Shabaab militant fighter on Wednesday surrendered to Somali National Army (SNA) in Mahas town, Hiiraan region in central Somalia, officials said.
Somali National Army commander in the area Ahmed Mohamed Teredisho told Xinhua by phone that the militant had a communication with government forces while he was at some areas near the border between Hiiraan and Galgudud regions in central Somalia about his defection.
"Nur Ibrahim Abdulahi, head of health for the terrorist group of Al-Shabaab in Galgudud region surrendered to Somali National Army here in Hiiraan region today, he joined the group while 14 years old and he is now 19. He was with them in the last five years," Teredisho said.
He said that Al-Shabaab militants tried to kill the defector while he was leaving, but he resisted and dropped a pistol that he was carrying.
"We are interrogating him now, we will transfer him to Beledweyne town in Hiiraan for further investigation, we continue our military operation while we welcome defections from the terrorist group," he said.
The latest defections comes after that of Al-Shabaab deputy leader Mukhtar Robow who surrendered to the government on Aug. 13.
Robow, also known as Abu Mansur, officially announced that he left Al-Shabaab more than five years ago.
