Kidnappers’ accomplice detained in North Darfur

Military Intelligence officers detained a senior militia leader in Saraf Umra, North Darfur, on Monday. He is suspected to be involved in the abduction of an Ukrainian pilot and his interpretor in Um Tajok, West Darfur, more than two weeks ago.

Militia leader and pharmacist Omda Ahmed Khater Ibrahim, held in his pharmacy in Saraf Umra, was transported to El Geneina, capital of West Darfur, for interrogation on Tuesday.

On 17 October, a group of militiamen riding four-wheel drive vehicles attacked the office of a relief organisation in Um Tajok. They killed a guard and took the pilot and his Sudanese interpretor with them. Not much later they demanded a ransom of SDG2 million ($330,000) for their release.

The authorities in El Geneina dispatched a military force to track the kidnappers. The search led them to El Tadamon in Saraf Umra locality, according to the coordinator of the Saraf Umra camps.

A local source told Radio Dabanga that the detained militia leader and pharmacist became suspect after his car was used to transport food, water, and medicines to the Ukrainian pilot.

The source said that the army is still searching for the abductees and eight militiamen. “The kidnappers have taken them to the Jawu Mountains, about 20 kilometres east of Saraf Umra town. They now demand a ransom of SDG2.5 million ($406,400).”