Harardhere 05 May. 06 ( Sh.M.Network) Group of Somali pirates are reported to have been trapped on an oil tanker which they have recently hijacked it near Elmaan port of northern Mogadishu after the residents of Harardhere district in central Somalia formed militia designed to stop pirates from stationing in the area. About seven pirates and 18 crewmembers have been stranded on the ship after they couldn’t afford to come offshore due to armed militia who vowed to protect Harardhere area against pirates, as Ahmed Ali Sheik ‘Gamase’ who is the commander of anti piracy militia told Shabelle radio.
He noted that the local militia surrounded the area the ship is being held, preventing the hijackers to come offshore. However Mr. Gamase said the Korean fishing boat held at the coast was illegally fishing the Somali waters and they would be brought before justice but opposing the hijacking of commercial and aid ships.
It was for the first time the residents established anti piracy militia to stop pirates from basing in the district.