Zalingei, August 24 (Darfur24)
Seven defendants facing charges of murder and armed robbery escaped from Zalingei prison in Central Darfur State last Friday, sources told Darfur24 on Monday.
Three sources said the fugitives’ whereabouts remain unknown.
A tribal leader in Central Darfur told Darfur24 that the seven escapees had criminal records and were facing charges related to armed robbery and murder. He alleged that prison guards facilitated their escape.
Among those who escaped was a suspect accused of killing three people north of Zalingei several months ago, the source said, without providing further details.
A police source in Central Darfur acknowledged that there had been negligence in guarding Zalingei prison, which holds dozens of detainees, including people accused of espionage and cooperation with the Sudanese army, as well as suspects in criminal and civil cases.
The source said the incident was the third escape from the prison in six months. In May, an armed group stormed the facility and freed dozens of detainees, while five people were injured.
Several military personnel, including the commander of the prison force, have been arrested and placed under strict guard, the police source said. A joint force comprising military police, federal police and civilian protection forces has been deployed to pursue the fugitives.
Meanwhile, Rapid Support Forces commander in Central Darfur, Major General Abdul Rahman Jumaa Barakallah, said strict measures had been taken against military personnel over negligence and shortcomings in securing the prison.
According to a statement posted on Facebook by journalist Aina Zayed, Barakallah said those found responsible had been stripped of their powers and would be held accountable.
“Serving the state is a trust and not a field for negligence,” he said, stressing that rank or position would not exempt those responsible from accountability.