HUDO Centre Date: 29th March 2020 No.: H.K/PS/23/021 PRESS STATEMENT KILLING OF A DRIVER IN ARMED ROBBERY NEAR ABU-KERSHOLA, SUDAN On 25th March 2021, armed robbers dressed in PDF uniform obstructed a truck with passengers along the way to Abu-Kershola. They robbed passengers and killed the driver. The case was reported at Abu-Kershola police but no action was taken. On 25th March 2021, a truck driven by Mr. Basheir Mustafa Abakar was traveling from Aleri to AbuKershola. Along the way, two armed persons dress in People Defense Force (PDF) uniform stopped the truck at Elgebailat seasonal river just before reaching Abu-Kershola. They robbed the four passengers of their smart phones and money. They ordered the truck driver to hand over the truck collection money. The driver answered that he had no money with him and they immediately shot him and disappeared. The victims were later helped by another truck which came with people from the opposite direction. But the driver who was shot died along the away as they rushed him to Elfaid UmAbdalla health centre. The driver’s relatives came and took his body for burial. This case was filed/ reported at Abu-Kershola police but there was no action taken by police. Instead, the police officer verbally intimidated the victim’s family members. However, one of the victim’s relatives informed HUDO that; “the victim’s phone is still on and the perpetrators reply/ answer to them in case of calling, and he was able to recognize the person from the voice supported by the description given by the robbed passengers”. Mr. Basheir Mustafa Abakar (30 years) was the truck driver. The other robbed passengers are: Mr. Abduelgaleil Ali the assistant to the truck driver; Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed Saleh is a trader and two others. Aleri and Abu-Kershola are towns in South Kordufan State/Nuba Mountain. Elgebailat seasonal river is about 15 km South of Abu-Kershola. HUDO is very concerned about the security situation and the safety of civilians in conflict areas and calls upon;     Sudan government to address the state of insecurity in South Kordufan State/Nuba Mountains. Sudan government to hold South Kordufan State police accountable for the misconduct Sudan government to ensure that the safety of civilians in conflict areas is guaranteed Sudan government to dissolve government militias and disarm people with unlicensed firearms. End: For more information please write to: hudo2009@gmail.com