ASWJ’s Wabho commander, Abdishakur Hussein Jaabiri told Sunatimes that the defectors had one vehicle and were armed with small guns.

He said their defection came as a result of dire living conditions they faced during their time with the militant group, al-Shabaab.

He also said they received them warmly to encourage other defectors to follow suit.

The pro-TFG group has several occasions in the past displayed alleged militant defectors joining their ranks, attributing this mass defection for their continuous provision of amnesty to militant defectors.