Mogadishu (Sunatimes) Al-shabab militants have ordered teachers in the Koran teaching schools to help their students study “holy fighting”.

Former Hizbul-Islam leader who joined Al-shabab, Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aways yesterday told teachers who attended a training on “Jihad studies” that they should pass the skills they gained from the training to their students to join their militia.

The teachers who attended the training came from different areas controlled by Al-shabab across the country.

An Al-shabab official who recently addressed the media announced that most of the fighters who were recently brought to Mogadishu to participate in the ongoing fighting were students learning Koran studies in the Bay region.

Since the Transitional Government forces supported by African Union peace keepers launched an offensive against Al-shabab militants, the insurgents have started a big campaign to urge residents in the areas under their control to join their militia.

By Aweys Foodeey