Abu Tira troops ambushed in North Darfur

Troops of the Central Reserve Forces (known as Abu Tira) on Wednesday were attacked by an “armed force” in the area of Jebel ‘Amer in North Darfur. The Abu Tira troops surrendered 13 Land Cruisers without resistance. Their colleagues in Saraf Omra, fearing another attack, fled to El Sareif. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, sources from the area reported that an “armed force” ambushed a group of Central Reserve Forces in the Jebel ‘Amer area on Wednesday. After they had surrendered without any resistance, the armed group put the Abu Tira officers in a vehicle, and told the driver to transport them to Kabkabiya town, where they arrived the same day. The witnesses said that the “successful attack” on the Central Reserve Forces, who are in charge of guarding the gold mines of Jebel ‘Amer, caused fear among their colleagues stationed in Saraf Omra, in particular after they received reports that the “armed forces” were moving in their direction. As the Central Reserve Forces in Saraf Omra are tasked with securing the school examinations (to be held in March), they fled to El Sareif town later on Wednesday.At the same time, the Commissioner of Saraf Omra locality departed with an Unamid aircraft to El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.The sources indicated that Janjaweed leader Musa Hilal, who returned to North Darfur from Khartoum in 2013, may be behind the attacks. File photo: Abu Tira forces Related: Abu Tira troops beat, rob Otash camp residents in South Darfur (23 February 2014)Four Abu Tira slain; lorry stolen in South Darfur (2 February 2014) Abu Tira and police forces withdraw from South Darfur localities (31 January 2014)