Kidnapped villagers released in North Darfur

Six villagers who were kidnapped by an armed group in North Darfur on Monday have been released after community leaders agreed to pay a SDG38,000 ($6,260) ransom.

The six were seized for ransom after a group of armed herders drove their camels onto farmlands at Adede in Saraf Umra locality. When the farmers tried to remove the camels from the land, a camel broke its leg.

The detained villagers were released on Tuesday after Ajaweed and sheikhs guaranteed to pay the ransom.

Sheikh Abdelrazeg Yousif Suleiman, the Coordinator of Saraf Umra camps told Radio Dabanga that on Wednesday a delegation from Adede village headed by Sheikh Ahmed Suleiman of Fase area met with Fadlunaji, the commander of the militia at Basma area on Tuesday evening.

He said they decided during the meeting to release the six detainees. The sheikhs will pay the amount of 38,000 SDG at a maximum period of 20 days.

He said the militants threatened to burn Adede village in the event that the sheikhs do not keep their commitment to pay the amount on time.

He added that the six villagers marks of torture on their bodies, and were taken to the Fase health centre.