Adayley, Somalia – The fugitive who killed his wife by setting her on fire in Mogadishu was captured on Monday by the Somali security forces after a nationwide manhunt that lasted for days.
Sayid Ali Maalin Daoud, who committed the gruesome murder on January 26, 2024, was arrested by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in a remote area of Adayley, a large region connecting Galgaduud and Mudug.
Daoud, who had been on the run since the incident, was planning to flee the country by boat with the help of two accomplices, who were also apprehended by NISA in a separate operation in Gawaan area under Wisil District in Mudug Region.
The horrific crime, which circulated on social media, sparked outrage and condemnation across Somalia and the world, as people demanded justice for the victim, Luul Sheikh Abdi, a mother of four.
The Somali government, which denounced the act as a violation of human rights and Islamic values, vowed to bring the perpetrator to justice swiftly and mobilized a special task force to track him down.
The arrest of Daoud and his accomplices was hailed by the family of Abdi and the Somali people, who expressed relief and satisfaction that the killer was finally caught.
However, they also called for a speedy trial and a harsh punishment for Daoud, who showed no remorse or regret for his actions.
Abdi’s father, Sheikh Abdi Hassan, said that his daughter’s death was a tragedy that shook the entire nation, and that he hoped that her case would serve as a wake-up call for the authorities and the society to address the issue of violence against women and girls in Somalia.
“We are grateful to the security forces and the government for their efforts to capture the murderer of our daughter, but we also demand that he faces the full wrath of the law and the Islamic sharia. He does not deserve any mercy or leniency for what he did. He took away the life of a mother, a sister, a daughter, and a human being in the most cruel and inhumane way possible. He has to pay for his crime with his own life,” he said.
“She was a beautiful soul who did not deserve such a fate. She was a victim of a monster who had no respect or compassion for her. She suffered a lot in her marriage, but she never complained or asked for help. She endured the abuse and the torture until the end. She was a martyr who died for no reason. We miss her terribly and we pray that Allah grants her the highest rank in paradise,” he added.
The society reaction to the murder was one of horror, anger, and solidarity, as various groups and individuals voiced their condemnation and support for the victim and her family.
Clerics denounced the act as un-Islamic and inhuman, and urged the faithful to pray for the soul of Abdi and the justice of Daoud.
Politicians added their voices to the call for action, and urged the government to make the capture of Daoud a top priority and not to resume business as usual until he was caught.
Elders promised to help and cooperate with the security forces, and took part in the search and manhunt for the killer in their respective regions.
Women groups said that the country could not afford to have the killer at large, and that it was necessary to mobilize all state machinery and resources in his capture.
They also demanded that the government take measures to protect the rights and dignity of women and girls, and to prevent such heinous crimes from happening again.
“This was a few difficult days for the family and the country, but it has also set the tone that such barbaric acts are not acceptable and will not go unpunished. We stand with the family of Luul Sheikh Abdi, and we demand justice for her and all the women and girls who suffer from violence and abuse in our society. We call on the government and the society to work together to end this scourge and to ensure the safety and dignity of every woman and girl in Somalia,” a statement from the women groups said.
