Police withdrawal from districts of Nertiti, Central Darfur, ‘causes concern’

The residents of the city of Nertiti in Central Darfur are concerned about security after the police withdrew protection and security points from the districts of Garsila and Tiraina on Sunday. A witness told Radio Dabanga that “residents are concerned about being vulnerable to attacks by pro-government militias. They say police headquarters decided to withdraw the security points tasked with securing and guarding the residential districts,” noting that no reasons were provided for the move. As reported from Central Darfur by Radio Dabanga earlier this month, residents of Mukjar attributed “an increase in banditry” to a similar withdrawal of smaller police stations to the headquarters. In the case of Mukjar, the protection of officers apparently motivated the decision. In an armed raid on a small police station in the locality on 5 July, an officer was killed and all arms and ammunition in the station were stolen. File picture: The emblem of the Sudan Police Force Related:‘Banditry upsurge in Central Darfur’ following police station closures (10 July 2013) Officer killed in ‘militia arms raid’ on Central Darfur police station (5 July 2013)