Ako Sabir, a member of the Sulaimaniyah Security Directorate, who died from his injuries after being shot while on duty during the distribution of humanitarian aid in Chamchamal.
Officer dies after shooting at flood aid distribution in Chamchamal
SULAYMANIYAH — A member of the Sulaimaniyah Security Directorate has died after being shot during a dispute that erupted while humanitarian aid was being distributed in Chamchamal, local officials said Saturday.
The incident took place Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, during the distribution of relief supplies to residents affected by this week’s floods, when an argument broke out between a security officer and several individuals. The officer, identified as Ako Sabir Hama Reza, was shot and transferred to Sulaimaniyah hospital for treatment.
The Chamchamal district administration offered condolences to his family and said, “Ako Sabir, who was wounded in a tragic incident, has passed away.”
Ata Mohammed, head of the Chamchamal Services and Reconstruction Commission, told a news conference, “One person wanted to create a problem and provoke chaos and assaulted a security officer, then left the scene, but another armed person arrived and, during the crowding, opened fire on the security forces, wounding three security personnel, one of whom was critically injured.”
Ata Mohammed identified the suspect as “Peshmerga [linked to] Abdullah Koikha Mubarak” and described the incident as “premeditated.”
In a statement, Abdullah Koikha Mubarak rejected claims of “premeditation” or a “social dispute,” saying, “I hope those statements were not intended as accusations or defamation, because the truth of the matter is that the problem occurred due to those Peshmerga members not being connected to the procedures and measures followed by the security forces for distributing aid.”
He added, “The two Peshmerga members went with their mother and family to receive aid and had no prior dispute with the security personnel.”
Kurdistan Regional Government Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani said, “With great sorrow, our dear Ako Sabir, a dedicated member of the security forces, who was shot and wounded yesterday along with two other colleagues while carrying out his duty to assist those affected by the Chamchamal floods, passed away today in hospital due to the severity of his injuries and joined the convoy of martyrs.”
“I extend my deepest condolences to the family and relatives of the proud martyr Ako and to all his colleagues in the security forces, the people of Chamchamal, and all of Kurdistan. We assure everyone that this criminal act will not pass without legal accountability, and those arrested will receive their lawful punishment,” he added.
The Kurdistan Region Security Agency also confirmed the death in a statement, saying, “With deep sadness and grief, we announce the martyrdom of our employee from the Directorate of West Sulaimaniyah Security, Ako Sabir Hama Reza. We extend our condolences to his family and colleagues and ask God Almighty to grant him eternal paradise and give patience to all.”
The shooting came as Chamchamal and other parts of the Kurdistan Region continued to reel from days of heavy rainfall that triggered widespread flooding. Chamchamal district earlier reported two deaths and 12 injuries and damage to more than 500 houses. In Kalar, a child drowned in the Gazino stream, and repair crews damaged a main water pipeline during search operations, cutting water to 14 neighborhoods. In Bazyan subdistrict, engineer Ahmad Hamed Shetri was swept away and confirmed dead, though his body has not yet been recovered, while in Kirkuk governorate a 9-year-old girl died in Farqani village after being carried away by floodwaters.
