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Livestock destroy Darfur crops

Countries
Sudan
Sources
Radio Dabanga
Publication date
Origin
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DARFUR (24 Aug .) - Farmers in Kutum locality, North Darfur, and in East Jebel Marra complain of livestock destroying their crops. Gunmen on Thursday killed a student, and injured a farmer in Nierteti locality, Central Darfur. On Friday militiamen stole a number of livestock in Tawila locality in North Darfur.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, a farmer from Jumeiza village reported that two weeks ago militant herders began releasing their livestock forcibly on the farmlands near the villages of Dalol, Tankrara, Jumeiza, Kouri, and Abakor Jeel, in the areas south and east of Kutum town. “The grazing animals have damaged most of our crops.”

In East Jebel Marra, armed herders assaulted farmers on Wednesday, moving their cattle onto the farmlands at gunpoint. One of the victims told Radio Dabanga that the herders released their cattle in the farming areas of Torgoli, Ragoli, Kaya, and Hillet Dabanga. “When we protested, they beat us.”

He appealed to the local authorities to protect the farmers and their property.

Farmers attacked

“Three government-backed militiamen opened fire on student Nureldin Taher El Tom (18), and Mahmoud Adam Mahmoud (35) while they were tending their farmlands west of Goz Mur in Nierteti locality on Thursday”, a witness told Radio Dabanga. “El Tom died instantly, and Mahmoud was seriously wounded.”

Livestock theft

Omda Mukhtar Bosh told Radio Dabanga from Tawila in North Darfur that a large group of gunmen stole 73 cows from Mohamed Abdallah Zakaria, 32 goats and two donkeys from Mohamed Ishag Suleiman, and a horse from Mohamed Saleh Adam.

He added that a “rescue team” formed by villagers managed to restore the goats. “The thieves fled with the rest of the stolen livestock.”