At least five people have been killed and many wounded in a string of attacks across Sudan's Darfur region over the last week.

A basic stage student was shot dead in Jebel Moon locality, West Darfur, by a herder "armed by the government," according to a relative of the victim. The shooting followed a dispute when herders damaged the victims' crops. The Sudanese Army intervened and forced the herders to pay the farmers, but the herders started shooting.

In Shangil Tobaya, North Darfur, group of armed herders shot dead Abdel Hamid Adam Osman, and seriously injured two others.

“Pro-government herders entered their camels and other livestock onto the farmlands in Abu Hamra area [west of Shangil Tobaya],” according to a witness. “When the farmers tried to chase the camels out, the herders opened fire and shot dead Adam Osman.”

Meanwhile, a member of the Sudan Armed Forces was killed and another injured in an attack by militiamen on Disa garrison in Kutum locality, North Darfur last Wednesday. Sources said the attack was committed by "Janjaweed" in retaliation for the killing of a herder some weeks ago.

In Central Darfur, a member of the Central Reserve Forces ('Abu Tira') was killed during an armed robbery on a commercial vehicle between Um Dukhun and Garsila committed by four pro-government militiamen, according to a source.

Also in Central Darfur, two children were killed by gunmen in Bindisi locality last Wednesday.

An uncle of the children reported that “suddenly on Wednesday morning,” two militiamen stormed our family house in Kalam Basna village. “They fired at the heads of Ahmed Yahya Ahmed (6), and his sister Kawsar (4). Both died instantly.”

“No one has a clue about the reasons behind the killing,” he added.

Furthermore, two men collecting firewood sustained serious injuries last Tuesday when attacked by militamen near Nierteti South camp, according to a local elder.

UNAMID hijacked

Three Pakistani UNAMID peacekeepers were wounded in an attack by unidentified gunmen in East Darfur on Saturday in the Um Zahima vally near Labado in Yassin.

According to a UNAMID official, the attackers attempted to steal the peacekeepers' vehicles but were repulsed with 'serious' injuries.

That attack follows an earlier ambush on 12 December when gunmen intercepted two UNAMID vehicles in Khor Abeche, South Darfur and took both trucks plus the peacekeepers' weapons and belongings.

Reporting by Radio Dabanga