{"id":185171,"date":"2014-05-26T12:07:00","date_gmt":"2014-05-26T12:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dabangasudan.preview.websight.nl\/abductions-in-azum-and-um-dukhun-central-darfur\/"},"modified":"2014-05-26T12:07:00","modified_gmt":"2014-05-26T12:07:00","slug":"abductions-in-azum-and-um-dukhun-central-darfur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/abductions-in-azum-and-um-dukhun-central-darfur","title":{"rendered":"Abductions in Azum and Um Dukhun, Central Darfur"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Friday, a sheikh of Um Shalaya camp for Chadian refugees in Azum locality, Central Darfur, was abducted. In Um Dukhun town, Central Darfur, gunmen kidnapped six people on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, Wardi Bahreldin, the head of the Um Shalaya reported to Radio Dabanga that four government-backed militiamen in a Land Cruiser mounted with a Dushka machinegun arrived at the police post of the camp on Friday.<\/p>\n

“They asked the police to call Sheikh Abdel Karim Ishag, claiming that they needed to see him. When the sheikh came, the gunmen kidnapped him before the eyes of the police and the displaced. They went northwards, to Fassi.”<\/p>\n

\u201cAn hour later, the kidnappers contacted me, asking for a ransom of SDG20,000 ($3,500) for the sheikh\u2019s release. On Sunday they phoned again, saying that the amount was raised to SDG70,000 ($12,300),\u201d the camp head said.<\/p>\n

He added that the Um Shalaya camp population has witnessed repeated acts of kidnapping and blackmailing by militiamen. \u201cYet we do not have the money to pay the ransoms.\u201d<\/p>\n

Humanitarian Aid Commissioner<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Um Dukhun town gunmen abducted six people on Saturday. They were released not much later that day.<\/p>\n

A witness told Radio Dabanga from El Matar camp for the displaced that three government-backed militia members on a motorcycle attacked a vehicle carrying six people, among them the Sudanese Humanitarian Aid Commissioner of Um Dukhun locality, Dr Hassan Abakar. The vehicle was on its way to the Abuzar camp east of the town.<\/p>\n

“The gunmen seized the commissioner, driver Mahjoub Mohamed, Ismail Suleiman Mursal, and three others. They were released after a few kilometres-ride. The kidnappers took the vehicle with them, which was also restored later.”<\/p>\n

The kidnapping of people seems to be on the rise again in Darfur since the last wave mid-2013. During the past few months at least ten Darfuris were abducted for a ransom.<\/p>\n

File photo<\/em><\/p>\n

Related:<\/em><\/p>\n

Kidnappers release boy without ransom in El Fasher<\/a> (23 May 2014)<\/p>\n

Sudan fails to free kidnapped West Kordofan engineers<\/a> (23 May 2014)<\/p>\n

Three men abducted, militiamen have ‘new weapons’ in North Darfur<\/a> (20 May 2014)<\/p>\n

Abducted transport head released in South Darfur<\/a> (15 may 2014)<\/p>\n

North Darfur families call for release abducted relatives<\/a> (29 April 2014)<\/p>\n

Kidnappers kill student in Nyala, South Darfur<\/a> (14 March 2014)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n