[Ijara MP Sophia Abdi Noor. She has appealed to the national government to stop the bombing at the Bonu Forest.] (KNA.)
Ijara MP Sophia Abdi Noor has appealed the government to slow down on the intended Boni forest bombing to flush out Al Shabaab militants hiding in the forest.
Ms Abdi the bombing will adversely affect the herders who have sought refuge in the forest.
Her appeal comes after herders were ordered to move away for the military to bomb the forest flush out Al Shabaab militants hiding in the extensive forest.
But, the MP now wants the government to first identify an area where the herders should be re-located to before ordering them out.
“As much as security is important livestock which is the only livelihood of the people is important so it’s upon the government to ensure no one is victimized or hurt in their operations in Boni forest,” she said.
She urged the government to assist those affected by the drought.
“Because of drought, we were providing water using water tankers to locals who have fled with their livestock to where they can get water. It is therefore inhuman to victimize them by telling them to go where they came from,” she added.