By Asha Elmi - Reporter
GAROWE, Somalia, Aug. 23, 2026 — Puntland’s Karkaar regional governor has urged fishermen and other coastal workers to stay ashore amid heightened security concerns following reported airstrikes near Garmaal in neighbouring Nugaal region.
Governor Abdullahi Ismail Osman on Saturday called on residents along the Karkaar coast to keep their boats ashore and safeguard their property while authorities address the security situation.
The warning follows recent events near Garmaal, where Puntland authorities said airstrikes killed fishermen and local residents. The circumstances surrounding the strikes and who carried them out have not been independently established.
Puntland’s Security Ministry has demanded answers over the reported strikes, which it said occurred between Aug. 18 and Aug. 20 following the hijacking of a cargo ship off Somalia’s coast.
The Cameroon-flagged M/V LUTUF was reported hijacked on Aug. 17 and later taken towards the Nugaal coastline near Garmaal. The circumstances surrounding the subsequent strikes remain disputed.
The Associated Press reported that four people were killed and two wounded in an airstrike near Garmaal, but said it could not independently verify who carried out the strike or whether those killed were involved in the hijacking.
Osman urged fishermen and others working along Karkaar’s coastline to exercise caution and avoid putting themselves at risk while authorities address the situation.
“We urge the hardworking people living and working along the coast of Karkaar to be extremely vigilant,” Osman said in a message to residents.
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He called on fishermen involved in seasonal marine activities to delay going to sea until authorities determine that conditions are safe, and advised them to keep their boats and other assets on land in the meantime.
Osman said anyone who disregards the warning and goes to sea would face increased scrutiny.
The governor also warned coastal communities against providing logistical, financial or other assistance to pirate groups, saying such activities could expose residents to further insecurity.
He said the measures were intended to protect civilians and their livelihoods and urged communities to cooperate with authorities and remain alert to individuals or groups engaged in activities that could threaten public security.
The warning comes amid renewed concern over piracy along Somalia’s coastline. The reported hijacking of the M/V LUTUF and subsequent events near Garmaal have raised concerns about the safety of fishing communities operating in the area.
Puntland authorities have not publicly identified those responsible for the reported airstrikes.
Osman urged Karkaar residents to prioritise their safety and maintain cooperation with authorities as they continue to monitor the situation.