Galmudug forces have pulled down road blocks in an operation aimed at easing transport and curtailing criminal networks which collect money from vehicles plying various routes in Mudug region, local administration officials said on Saturday.
At least 5 roadblocks have dismantled which have for a long time served as conduits for criminals conducting illegal taxation.
The soldiers removed several illegal checkpoints in areas under Galisoor town, accoding to Galisoor chief, Ali Saeed who spoke to South west based independent station IdaleNews.com
Saeed said that the operations were intended to beef up the security of the roads connecting the whole region.
“We have removed nine roadblocks, in the process some the gunmen mounted the roadblocks tried to confront our soldiers but we have dealt them seriously,” he said.
Motorists who ply the region have severally complained from extortion by militias who man those illegal roadblocks.
The drivers of some of the public vehicles have once held demonstrations after they realized that they could not afford the levies to those militias as they were too much.
There have been attacks on public transport and army installations in most of this part of the region and the forces have been trying to address
