PDF SOLDIERS KIDNAPPED AND ROBBED FARMERS IN SUDAN

<p><b>1 No.: H.K/PS/13/020 <br> 13th April 2020 <br>                                                                                                             PRESS STATEMENT <br>                                                             PDF SOLDIERS KIDNAPPED AND ROBBED FARMERS IN SUDAN</b> <br> On 31st March 2020, a group of PDF soldiers in South Kordufan State/ Nuba Mountains kidnapped farmers with their tractor and robbed them of their money and mobile phones. The relative of the kidnapped people managed to pursue and rescue them. The case was reported but no investigations were conducted. On 31st March 2020, Mr. Elsadiq Ishaq Adam a driver (47 years old), Mr. Gasim Badri a farmer (28 years old), Hassan Jabir a farmer (30 years old) and Isam Mahmoud (35 years old) were abducted/ kidnapped by ten armed men dressed in Public Defense Force (PDF) uniform on motorbikes. The abducted people were on a tractor from their farms in Habilla to Dalami town. As they approached Kokaya village, the armed men obstructed and forcefully diverted them to Elmughafal forest where they robbed them of their money (approximately 2500 Sudanese Pound = 250 USD) and six (6) smart phones. The kidnappers asked for a ransom by making a phone call to the owner of the tractor. The next day morning (1st -April-2020), relatives of the abducted people gathered and started to trace the kidnappers up to Elmughafal forest. The kidnappers managed to run away leaving the tractor and the captives behind. The captives were rescued and the case was reported at Dalami town and Habilla police but no further investigations were conducted. Habilla is an agricultural scheme about 70 km west Dalami; Dalami is the capital of Dalami locality in South Kordufan state/ Nuba mountains, Kokaya village is between Habilla and Dalami in a distance of 35 km west of Dalami; Elmughafal forest is about 65 km north of Dalami. HUDO is very concerned about the situation of civilians in conflict areas and calls upon; <br>· Sudan government at state and central level to urgently investigate the state of insecurity in South Kordufan/ Nuba Mountains and to solve it urgently. <br> · Sudan government to ensure that police executes their duties responsibly <br> · Sudan government to ensure the safety of people in conflict areas <br> · Sudan government to dissolve the PDF and disarm them. <o:p></o:p></p><p> </p><p>End: For more information please write to: hudo2009@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p>