Gunmen steal hundreds of cattle heads in North Darfur

March 2, 2016 (EL-FASHER) – An unidentified armed group has looted hundreds of cattle heads in Al-Galabat area in the locality of Tawilla, 30km west of North Darfur state capital, El-Fasher.

Government source told Sudan Tribune Wednesday that gunmen on 3 four-wheel drive vehicles stole the cattle from the shepherds at gunpoint, saying the authorities are following the perpetrators to recover the stolen cattle heads.

Eyewitnesses had earlier told Sudan Tribune that an unidentified armed group has recently committed acts of killing and looting along the road that links the locality of Tawilla to El-Fasher.

Last week, gunmen on motorcycles shot at a group of passengers who were aboard a public transportation vehicle on the road linking Tawilla to El-Fasher which led to the killing of two people and injury of two others.

In January, unknown gunmen attacked a force of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in western Sudan (UNAMID) near Anka area in North Darfur and injured one blue helmet.
Also in September, a peacekeeper was killed in an ambush on the road between Mellit and Almaliha, 55km from El-Fasher.

Last December, the Justice and Equality Movement – Dabajo said militiamen riding over 40 vehicles attacked several villages in Anka area, Kutum county in North Darfur and looted herds of cattle.

The former rebel group said the assailants came from Kutum town.

(ST)