Central Darfur: kidnapped students released after ransom paid

January 17, 2015 (NERTITI) – An unknown armed militia has released five high school students, in return for a 50.000 pounds SDG ransom.

The five students were abducted by the armed men last December upon their return from Korki area to the locality of Nertiti in Central Darfur state.

A parent of one of the abductees told Sudan Tribune the kidnappers released the students following payment of the ransom, pointing the gunmen threatened to kill them if their parents refuse to pay the money.

He said the abductees’ families made a lot of efforts to secure the money for their release following two weeks of abduction, noting the 5 students arrived in Nertiti last Monday in a miserable health condition.

Meanwhile on a related development, unidentified gunmen have abducted a man by the name of, Haroun Abdalla Haroun, from his house in the village of Dignij west of the locality of Kass in South Darfur state on Wednesday evening and took him to an unknown destination.

Nourain Salih Yahia, a relative of the kidnapped said the gunmen demanded a ransom but didn’t set specific amount, pointing the difficult financial conditions of the kidnapped and the large size of his family would not allow him to pay any ransom.

He demanded the state authorities to intervene to secure his release.

Businessmen and commercial convoys in Darfur are regularly attacked by armed gangs which demand ransom for their release.

Different states in the western Sudan region, declared emergency situation imposing a curfew from 7pm to 7am (local time), banning wearing a kadamool (turban which covers the face) or driving tinted glasses vehicles.

(ST)