Bilel, February 2 (Darfur24)
Residents reported an increase in nighttime shop robberies in Bilel locality, located about 12 kilometers east of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State.
A resident told Darfur24 that unknown groups looted 15 sacks of cement and 20 sacks of sugar from a shop belonging to trader Ishaq in the Bilel market on Thursday night.
The same group also stole 30 jerrycans from a warehouse owned by merchant Issa, who operates a municipal oil press for the production of edible oils, according to the source.
The resident said the stolen goods were loaded onto a large vehicle parked inside the market, noting that the thefts occurred in the presence of security personnel, who did not intervene despite reportedly receiving payments to guard the market.
He added that affected traders filed a complaint at the Bilel police station and that steps are underway to replace the current security personnel.
In a related development, a local source told Darfur24 that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out a security campaign in the Bilel market last Friday, during which they confiscated certain types of cigarettes, including “Shamlan” and “Master.”
Residents noted that incidents of nighttime shop robberies in the Bilel market have recently resurfaced after several months of relative calm.