Sudan confirms abduction of foreign pilot in West Darfur

October 20, 2015 (EL-GENEINA) – A Sudanese official confirmed the abduction of an Ukrainian pilot and a Sudanese female translator in West Darfur state adding that security services in the whole region are coordinating efforts to apprehend the kidnappers.

Last Friday a group of nine gunmen ridding four wheels vehicles kidnapped the pilot and the translator working with an international relief group in Kerenek area of West Darfur, near North Darfur state.

A West Darfur’s security official who is not authorized to speak to the media on Monday confirmed to Sudan Tribune reports about the incident, indicating that the abductors have crossed into North Darfur .

“The abductors crossed into North Darfur in the direction of Kabkabiya and Saraf Omra areas,” he said.

Last Sunday, the commissioner of Kerenek county, Mohamed Omer al-Fudail, disclosed the kidnapping to the Khartoum based al-Initibaha newspaper, adding the pilot was in a mission with the prevention department at the ministry of health.

The security official said the pilot was driving a spray plane.

The authorities in the five states of Darfur are informed of the situation and coordinate their efforts for the arrest of culprits, he further said.

He pointed that a government force is chasing them and monitoring closely their displacements, without further details.

However, the official stressed they did not receive any ransom demand, as the armed gangs used to do in such cases.

(ST)