Central Darfur hostages ‘in good health’: Commissioner

The Commissioner of Nierteti locality in Central Darfur has said that the seven hostages who were abducted last Friday are in good condition and that there are efforts to release them soon. Commissioner Mohammed Dahab told Radio Dabanga that the cause of the abduction was attributed to a former conflict over non-commitment to pay blood money between two tribes. He added that some neutral parties were sent to the place where the abductees were held and found the hostages in good health. He assured that there are attempts to solve the problem, explaining that the other party is committed to pay blood money according to customs and traditions. He confirmed his Locality’s keenness to manage and contain the crisis. The Commissioner told Radio Dabanga of the formation of 22 committees at the locality’s level to receive reports on the security incidents that occur. “The security situation in the locality is stable, but there are some minor problems caused by frictions between farmers and pastoralists, but the agricultural season is stable,” The Commissioner said. Reports of pastoralists allowing livestock to graze on farmland reach Radio Dabanga frequently. File photo: A farmer clears a field of sugar cane in West Darfur (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related: Central Darfur kidnappers raise ransom (18 November 2014) Two killings, abductions in Central Darfur spark protest (16 November 2014) Janjaweed shoot five, kidnap two in Darfur (11 September 2014)