Speaking to reporters in Beledweyne town, the area regional governor, Abdifatah Xasan Afrah said the checkpoints were removed following talks with the armed militias manning these checkpoints.

He said they promised basic military trainings and salaries for the militias in return of the immediate removal of the checkpoint, adding that they will soon be reintegrated into government troops in the region.

Afrah said the militias handed over their weapons to the government officials in the area and are ready to join into the government troops.

He said such illegal checkpoints will not be tolerated in the region and threatened to take a concrete measures against individuals found re-establishing these checkpoints.

In mid last September, Government troops in the region scrapped-off several illegal checkpoints manned by armed militias at Dira’le village, 35 km from Beledweyne town.

Several gangs manning the checkpoints were also arrest during the crackdown.

Locals welcomed government’s move to overrun the illegal checkpoints in the area, as such checkpoints were used to extort vehicles playing the route.