The head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), General Abdullahi Gafow Mohamud, has asked Benadir residents to apply for identification cards from the Benadir region municipal.
Mr Gafow was speaking during a meeting attended by Banadir Police chief and chaired by the governor of Banadir region and mayor of Mogadishu, Yusuf Hussien Jimcaale at Banadir region headquarters in Mogadishu.
Gen Gafow warned that people without ID cards would not be allowed to travel to the capital.
“We saw many people killed by unknown gangs, we also heard of others who were buried without their family’s knowledge. We need to avoid such cases by making sure every one has an identification card so that it is easy to identify them and hand them over to their families. We would like every one living in Mogadishu to have an ID,” he added.
He said that people all over the globe have an Identification card for security reasons and such laws should apply in Banadir region. He further warned that anyone found without an ID would be apprehended and treated as a criminal.
The leaders also discussed how to improve the security situation in Mogadishu.
“I really appreciate how you are handling the responsibilities bestowned upon you and I urge all officials in this meeting hall to strengthen security in the region,“ said the mayor of Mogadishu, Yusuf Jimcaale.
The municipal IDs have not being functional for the last two and a half decade in Mogadishu after the collapse of the central government but Mogadishu regional administration is looking to restore them.
(Writing by Hassan Istiila. Editing by Julian Kamau)
