Mogadishu(Mogadishu24)-A deadly altercation unfolded at Hormuud Telecommunication’s headquarters in Mogadishu’s Hawlwadag district on Tuesday morning, resulting in the death of a soldier with uniform of the Somali government forces.

The incident occurred around 7:30 EAT, when two armed men arrived at the company’s Bakara Market office, demanding unauthorized access to a mobile money account.

According to a statement released by Hormuud Telecom, the two men sought to withdraw funds from an unknown SIM card without the owner’s permission.

When the company’s operators refused the request, citing protocol, the men returned shortly after, bringing a woman they claimed had been abducted. A dispute ensued between the armed men and Hormuud’s security team, escalating into a gunfight. One of the gunmen, a soldier, was shot dead, while the other fled the scene.

Hormuud stated that its security team acted in self-defense, protecting the company’s employees and assets. The company has called on its customers and the Somali public to support their efforts in maintaining security, reaffirming that they have government permission to defend their property from robbers.

The company also confirmed that the Somali police had been contacted immediately after the incident. Hormuud emphasized that they had provided all relevant information to the authorities and reiterated their commitment to safeguarding customers’ assets. This is the first time such a deadly incident has occurred at one of our offices

The Somali police have yet to issue an official comment on the incident. Hormuud Telecom is one of the largest telecommunications and mobile banking service providers in Somalia, and this incident highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by businesses in the country.