More militia leaders held in Saraf Umra, North Darfur

08/11/2015 22:40

Members of the Military Intelligence detained two senior militia leaders in Saraf Umra, North Darfur, today.
The militiamen are suspected of being involved in the kidnapping of a Ukrainian pilot and his Sudanese interpretor in Um Tajok in West Darfur on 17 October. The search for the kidnappers and their victims led to Saraf Umra locality. The kidnappers reportedly took the pilot and his interpretor to the Jawu Mountains, about 20 kilometres east of Saraf Umra town, and demand a ransom of SDG2.5 million ($406,400).
One of the two top militia leaders detained in El Riyadh district in eastern Saraf Umra this (Sunday) morning is called Juma, the other Yousef, a listener told Radio Dabanga from Saraf Umra.
He reported that the officers also found a Land Cruiser stolen from the Unamid peacekeeping mission stored inside Juma’s house.
On Monday, Military Intelligence officers detained a senior militia leader and pharmacist in Saraf Umra. He was transported to El Geneina, capital of West Darfur, the next day for interrogation.

Members of the Military Intelligence detained two senior militia leaders in Saraf Umra, North Darfur, today.

The militiamen are suspected of being involved in the kidnapping of a Ukrainian pilot and his Sudanese interpretor in Um Tajok in West Darfur on 17 October.

The search for the kidnappers and their victims led to El Tadamon near Saraf Umra, which is a stronghold of militiamen led by former Janjaweed leader Musa Hilal. 

A few days after the kidnap, a mediation committee of leaders of the local native administration, negotiated the abductees' release. Yet, the hand over failed. 

Three days ago a source reported to Radio Dabanga that the kidnappers took the pilot and his interpretor to the Jawu Mountains, about 20 kilometres east of the town. They demand a ransom of SDG2.5 million ($406,400).

A listener told Radio Dabanga from Saraf Umra today that one of the two top militia leaders detained this (Sunday) morning is called Juma, the other Yousef. 

He said that the Military Intelligence officers also found a Land Cruiser stolen from the Unamid peacekeeping mission stored inside Juma's house in El Riyadh district in eastern Saraf Umra.

Earlier this week, a senior militia leader and pharmacist was detained in Saraf Umra. He was transported to the Military Intelligence offices in El Geneina, capital of West Darfur, for interrogation.