Kidnapping cases prevail in Syria’s Daraa amid security unrest
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – Recently, kidnapping cases have increased in the city of Daraa and its countryside by unknown gangs, which release kidnapped people in turn for ransoms by their families amid the Syrian government’s default in maintaining security and stability.
Local sources told North Press, “Unknown armed men, ridding two motorbikes, kidnapped on Saturday Naser Muhammad al-Sayyah, 25, on the outskirts of the town of Eastern Ghariyah.”
The sources added that the kidnappers intercepted al-Sayyah on a route linking between the towns of Eastern Ghariyah and al-Sora under the threat of arms and they accompanied him, heading to al-Sora.
Al-Sayyah was kidnapped on his return from a farm of his father in Eastern Ghariyah, according to the same sources.
The sources suggested that the kidnapping took place with the aim to demand a ransom in turn for his release.
On April 6, a gang released “Ahmad al-Zoebi Abu Zaki,” from the village of Adawan in the western countryside of Daraa, in turn for paying a ransom of $9,000.
Al-Zoebi, who works in car trading and owns a travel office, was kidnapped by a gang near the town of Tafas in the western countryside of Daraa.
On April 2, armed men kidnapped the young man Bashar al-Matar al-Omiri near the village of Ghasam in the eastern countryside of Daraa.
A local source said that an unknown kidnapper intercepted al-Omiri on a route linking between the villages of Ghasam and Sahoah in eastern Daraa, they kidnapped him and stole his car.
The source added that the kidnapper hails from a tribe from Suwayda Governorate and has been residing in the eastern countryside of Daraa for years.
The source noted that the kidnapping was carried out due to tribal revenge.
Since the government forces re-captured Daraa in line with the 2018 agreement, the governorate has been living in a state of security chaos, with one or two daily assassinations targeting soldiers and officers of the government forces, not to mention the spread of thefts.
In July 2018, the opposition armed faction and the government forces reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by Russia in the opposition-held areas in Daraa. Under the deal, the opposition armed factions agreed to hand over their heavy weapons in exchange for staying in Daraa, and those oppose the agreement would go to Idlib, which is under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front).