Date: 14th January 2021 No. H.K/PS/04/021 PRESS STATEMENT DRIVER ASSAULTED AND ROBBED BY ARMED PEOPLE NEAR KOLOGI, SUDAN On 8th January 2021, a group of armed people with masks assaulted and robbed Mr. Ibrahim Suliman Kandagi (driver) along the road between Talodi and Kologi. He was robbed of his smart phone and money on gun point. The case was reported to Kologi police but there was no follow up. On 8thJanuary 2021, a commercial truck driver (Mr. Ibrahim Suliman Kandagi) was traveling from Altugula gold mine to Abu-Jibaiha. His truck broke down at Gardood Toro and the passengers disembarked and used other moving vehicles. The truck driver was left alone because his assistant had gone to bring the needed spare parts to fix the truck. Suddenly, a group of four armed people with masks came and beat up the driver with sticks, took his smart phone and money from him. Later on after fixing the truck, the driver moved to Kologi town and reported/ filed the case against anonymous at Kologi police. But there has been no effort made to arrest the perpetrators. Mr. Ibrahim Suliman Kandagi (driver) is about 40 years old. Kologi is the main town of Gadeir locality in Nuba Mountains/ South Kordufan State. Altugula gold mine is in Talodi locality and Gardood Toro is a jungle area along the way between Talodi/ Gardood Toro and Kologi connects to Abu-Jibaiha. HUDO is very concerned about the situation of civilians in conflict areas and calls upon;  Sudan government to urgently investigate and address the state of insecurity in South Kordufan/ Nuba Mountains.  Sudan government to ensure that police executes their duties responsibly by observing the rule of law.  Sudan government to ensure the safety of people in conflict areas.  Sudan government to dissolve and disarm the government militias and withdraw unlicensed weapons from the public. End: For more information please write to hudo2009@gmail.com 1