MOGADISHU (Sunatimes)- Unidentified gunmen have shot dead a a senior veteran Somali journalist working for The state run radio in the volatile capital of Mogadishu, colleague said Tuesday.

The radio reported that Sheikh Nur Abkey, 60 years old veteran was shot dead by two assailants in the populated Wardhigley suburb.

"Abkey was killed on his way to his house” Bashir Ghanni, a colleague at radio Muqdisho told Sunatimes.

“Alshabaab killed him, they don’t want any press freedom, but kill everyone” he added.

The murder of old journalist was the latest in a series of targeted killing of media personnel in Somalia where nine journalists have been killed in similar attacks in recent years.

"I am terribly saddened by the death of Abkey, its huge loss” Dahir Abdulle Alasow, the chairman of ASOJ journalist union said.

“The entire Somali journalist will mourn this tragedy." He added.

Nine journalists were killed there last year by armed militias mostly from Alshabaab in the country blighted by relentless civil war since 1991, is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists.

Source: Sunatimes

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