MOGADISHU, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A senior al-Shabab commander on Saturday surrendered to Somali security forces in Bula-hawo town in Gedo region, southern Somalia, officials said.
Ali Hassan Abdi, Somali security official in the region told media that they would welcome anyone of the group fighters or commanders who decides to defect and accept amnesty offered by the government.
"Al-Shabab senior commander for collecting taxes defected from the group and surrendered to us here in this town today, we welcomed him well and we will also welcome others leaving the terrorist network," Abdi said.
The defector, Abdihakim Hussein Yusuf lauded the security forces for welcoming him, adding that there were more al-Shabab fighters who are planning to defect.
The defection comes after another al-Shabab defector who surrendered to Southwest State in Somalia was awarded 15,000 U.S. dollars in Baidoa town on Thursday.
There was no immediate comment from the militant group on the latest defections from its group.
