Army officers ‘rape and stab’ girl in Abu Zereiga

A girl was allegedly raped by three army officers in the area of Abu Zereiga in North Darfur on Monday, 10 December, her relatives told Radio Dabanga. They said that after assaulting the victim, the officers stabbed her in both breasts and hands, and broke her ribs. The girl was reportedly brought to a hospital in El-Fasher in coma. According to relatives of the victim, the army officers, who have a base in Abu Zereiga camp, ambushed a group of 10 women as they were returning to their village after collecting hay. They tried raping them and beat them when they resisted, in addition to burning the hay they were carrying, sources recounted. However, they continued, Abu Zereiga residents heard the women’s and went rescuing them, what prompted the alleged perpetrators to flee. On their way back to the base, the three officers encountered a girl, who was returning home after collecting wood, sources stated. They reported that the officers raped the girl alternately, pointing out the assault happened between six and nine o’clock in the evening.   The incident was reported to the El-Fasher police, the victims’ relatives told Radio Dabanga. Two days earlier, according to eye-witnesses, Sudanese soldiers launched attacks in Abu Zereiga leaving several residents injured.Residents appealed to local authorities and to the regional army commander to put an end to the abuse and violations of the military and to bring the perpetrators to justice.Radio Dabanga file photo