ISIOLO– A wave of shock and concern swept through Isiolo on Thursday evening following the shooting of Mzee Idle Hassan, the Secretary General of the Somali Council of Elders.
The elder statesman was shot multiple times near Jamia Mosque in Isiolo’s Central Business District around 8:00 p.m.
According to a statement issued by Isiolo Governor Abdi Ibrahim Guyo, the attack appears to be politically motivated, possibly linked to Mzee Idle’s strong opposition to the recently failed impeachment process within the county government.
Governor Guyo condemned the attack as a “brazen and cowardly act” and expressed deep concern over the growing presence of suspected Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) operatives in Isiolo, whom he claimed may be working to destabilize the area.
“There is growing concern over the presence of suspected OLF operatives in Isiolo, whose intentions may be to instill fear and disrupt the peace that our communities have preserved for more than two decades,” Governor Guyo stated.
He called on national security agencies to act swiftly and decisively to investigate the shooting and bring the perpetrators to justice, while also working to reassure Isiolo residents of their safety.
“I urge our security agencies to move swiftly and decisively to investigate this heinous crime, bring the perpetrators to justice, and reassure the people of Isiolo of their safety and protection,” he said.
Governor Guyo also offered his prayers and support to Mzee Idle and his family, wishing the elder a speedy and full recovery.
Mzee Idle Hassan, the Secretary General of the Somali Elders Council in Isiolo, was shot tonight near the Isiolo Jamia Mosque by unknown assailants who fled the scene.
He was rushed to a medical facility where he is currently receiving treatment, amid worsenin… pic.twitter.com/WnsobK60Di
— Frontier Online (@FrontierOnlineK) August 7, 2025
As of now, no suspects have been apprehended, and the motive behind the attack remains under investigation. Authorities have yet to release an official statement, but security presence in Isiolo has been heightened in the wake of the incident.
The shooting marks a troubling escalation in local tensions, raising concerns about the security of community leaders and the potential for politically motivated violence in the county.
