Man sentenced for robbery and assault in Dire Dawa arrested after two years

Usman Musa, who was released on bail while facing charges of robbery and aggravated assault in Dire Dawa, has been arrested after two years on the run. Musa had been sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison for a November 2022 attack at the Dalol gas station, where he pepper-sprayed and stabbed employees. Following his initial arrest, the court had granted him bail, which allowed him to abscond. Dire Dawa police, working with the local community and militia, finally apprehended him and sent him to prison. The case has raised questions regarding why someone charged with such violent crimes was granted bail in the first place.