Four killed in militia attacks in North Darfur region
January 22, 2015 (EL-FASHER) – Four people were killed in North Darfur’s Tawilla and Um Baru areas as result of attacks carried out by militiamen riding on camels and horses.
Tawilla traditional leader “Umda” Mukhtar Bosh told Sudan Tribune on Thursday that militiamen attacked Taradona village and opened fire villagers who tried to prevent them from looting their belongings and livestock, killing two people and wounded two others.
According to Boch, the assailants stole more 300 camels and cows from the villagers, as well as their cash and belongings.
He said Sudanese government troops in a garrison near Tiger Dam repelled the attack after they were informed of the incident by villagers, adding that the attackers subsequently fled with the looted livestock.
Militia groups and tribesmen allied to the government in its counter-insurgency war in Darfur have been blamed for attacks on civilians and farmers and taking advantage of the chaos in the region. They also target ethnic groups and suspected rebel strongholds, hoping that authorities will turn a blind eye to their criminal activities.
Meanwhile, a group of camel herders in Kubri valley in Um Baru area were also ambushed by a gunmen in four-wheel-drive vehicles. The attackers killed two shepherds and looted 200 head of camels.
UK-based advocacy group SUDO UK reported similar attacks in a briefing released on Thursday.
According to the exiled group, gunmen attacked Donkey Sharafa village, which lies 20km west of El Fasher, and “looted 300 sheep, 217 goats, 19 donkeys, 63 camels and two horses”.
According to SUDO UK, militiamen riding camels also assaulted Girgera village, 7km west of Zamzam camp, where they killed two civilians and looted 30 camels, 240 sheep, 93 goats, 36 donkeys and four horses.
(ST)