Reports say commercials trucks stayed away from entering the town for the last 24 hours as part of the wider rebel tax boycott.

According to the locals, the militants have doubled taxes levied on all products and animals sold in the area markets to boost their income.

They said for instance, trucks transporting commercial goods used to pay Somsh 3 million for every trip to and outside the town but have now been doubled forcing owners to pay Somsh 6 million.

Traders also used to pay Somsh 30,000 and 100,000 for any single goat and camel get sold in the area livestock market respectively but each has now been doubled.

In unrelated development, several trucks are stranded in parts of Middle Shabelle following heavy flooding in the region.