“Hell in Nyala”: Looting Gunfire Claims Young Lives, Mysterious Fires Engulf Homes

The city of Nyala, capital of South Darfur State, witnessed a sharp deterioration in security over the past week, with a surge in violence linked to killings and armed looting, following weeks of relative calm and stability.

Local residents told Darfur24 that crime rates—particularly armed robberies in markets and on public roads—have risen markedly. Armed groups have spread across neighborhoods including Al-Salam, Al-Nahda, and Al-Droua in northern Nyala, openly looting sitizens and intercepting public vehicles in broad daylight.

Eyewitnesses reported that three people were killed in separate armed robbery incidents on Monday and Tuesday, including a man in his twenties identified as Hammad.

They added that several traders were subjected to similar attacks while returning from the main market to their homes.

Trader Gebreil Haroun stated that organized criminal gangs have been systematically targeting shops in the Fuel Market, noting that multiple stores are looted daily despite the presence of security guards.

In a separate development, fires that broke out on Tuesday and Thursday destroyed eight residential homes within the city, causing extensive material losses and leaving several persons injured, including two children.

Meanwhile, reports of missing persons have continued to surface on social media platforms in Nyala.

Families have reported losing contact with relatives after they left their homes last week. The family of teacher Issa Al-Doum Izhag said he left his house in Al-Wadi neighborhood one morning heading to the market and has not returned since.

Similarly, the family of Sabir Ibrahim Kowa reported that he left home and has not been seen since.