Herdsmen assault West Darfur farmers

Four farmers, including two women, were injured by armed herdsmen in Kereinek locality, West Darfur, on Thursday. One of the farmers reported to Radio Dabanga that about ten “government-backed herdsmen” attacked them on Thursday in the area of Asirni, Kereinek locality, when they were collecting straw and firewood. The herders severely beat them with whips and rifle butts, seriously injuring four of them, including two women. A ‘rescue team’ transferred the victims to Asirni for treatment. The herders took the farmers’ money, mobile phones and other belongings, threatening them with death if they return to the area. The incident was reported to the police, who did not pursue the aggressors, though the herders were not far away and clearly visible. The farmer appealed to the responsible parties to act and protect farmers and other citizens from attacks by militiamen and armed herdsmen. File photo by Hamid Abdulsalam/Unamid Related: Militiamen gang-rape three women in North Darfur (18 December 2013)Straw collectors attacked by militiamen in West Darfur (16 December 2013)