Photographic confessions broadcast by the Aden Capital Security Department have unveiled new details regarding the abduction and assassination of Eng. Wissam Qaid, former acting Executive Director of the Social Fund for Development in Aden. The revelations shed light on the roles played by a cell financed by the Houthi militia and the planning and execution mechanisms involved.
The confessions, made by the suspect Omar Nasser Saleh, indicate that the operation was not an isolated or random act, but rather the result of organized efforts. These efforts included relocating the cell members to Aden, securing their accommodation, and conducting precise surveillance of the victim's movements prior to the execution of the crime.
The suspect stated that he received a call from his nephew, Abdo Mohammed Nagui, who requested transportation from Al-Dhale' to Aden. Two other individuals, Saleh Wadie Haddad and Mahdi Mohammed Al-Suwaidi, were also with them. The suspect admitted to transporting several cell members to Aden using his personal passenger bus as a means of camouflage to avoid suspicion, with weapons concealed in luggage during transit. He also acknowledged providing shelter and accommodation for those involved in the crime in the Al-Kathiri and Beer Fadhel areas.
The confessions highlight that the surveillance phase was crucial. The suspect admitted to continuously tracking Eng. Wissam Qaid's movements, providing the perpetrators with precise information about his location, vehicle details, and daily routes. The cell relied on continuous field intelligence gathering, reflecting a level of pre-planning and division of roles, with some members focusing on surveillance and others on execution and field operations.
The suspect's role extended beyond surveillance; he admitted to facilitating the escape of the perpetrators after the assassination, transporting some of them and attempting to move them out of Aden towards Sana'a. However, tightened security measures and checkpoints following the incident disrupted their escape plan, forcing the cell members to temporarily seek refuge in the suspect's home in the Al-Mualla district before resuming their attempts to leave.
The suspect also confessed to receiving the weapons used in the operation and concealing them. The weapons, along with other cell members, were transported the following day to a departure point heading towards Sana'a, suggesting prior arrangements to ensure the perpetrators' exit and the disposal of evidence. Furthermore, the confessions revealed aspects of the operation's financing, with the suspect admitting to receiving sums of Saudi Riyals for surveillance tasks and a financial transfer after the crime to repair his bus and facilitate his escape to Houthi-controlled territories.
Eng. Wissam Qaid was abducted on May 3rd from his home in Al-Inma city. His body was later discovered inside his vehicle in the Al-Hasswah area. The assassination sparked widespread condemnation from both public and official circles, as it targeted a civilian figure involved in development and service sectors.
