Four people including a militant leader have reportedly been killed after a fierce gunfight erupted between government troops and Al-Shabaab militants defending their base in Bulo Hawo.

Three others including a government soldier were also said to have been injured during the fight.

Adan Ali Ibrahim, a resident of the area told Sunatimes that the killed militant leader Mohamed Hajji Fugow used to be Bardale police boss during the time of late TFG president Abdullahi Yussuf Ahmed.

Military officials said the aim of their operation was to dislodge militants from area where they used to organise and co-ordinate attacks against government installations in the region.