Police, drug dealers killed in West Kordofan, West Darfur

Several policemen and a soldier were killed and wounded in a shootout with an armed gang on a road in West Kordofan on Saturday.

Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that three gunmen kidnapped two employees of the Zakat Chamber west of El Tabun area and demanded a ransom for their release.

A rescue team of soldiers and civilians of Babanusa clashed with the kidnappers after they released the employees for SDG5,000 ($815). Three policemen, three security service agents, and one soldier were killed. Six policemen and soldiers sustained gunshot wounds.

None of the perpetrators were arrested, according to the witnesses.

West Darfur

In the state capital El Geneina, a number of people were killed and wounded in an armed clash between drug dealers on Sunday.

A witness told Radio Dabanga that a drug dealer in Haskanita disagreed with others on the price of drugs, and “shelled the area with a bomb”. The explosion killed four people, including a woman and the drug dealer. Eight others were wounded and taken to El Geneina hospital for treatment.

In an unrelated event, the Ministry of Interior announced the siezure of 21.6 tons of cannabis, 11.6 kg of heroin, 3.6 tons of Yemeni Gat, and about 4,000 narcotic pills in Khartoum last year.

Babikir Digna, the State Interior Minister, reported this while speaking to the parliament on the Ministry's performance on Monday.