Unknown gunmen abducted at least 107 civilians in Mukaya payam of Lainya County in Central Equatoria State, a lawmaker said.

Robert Isaiah, a lawmaker representing the area in the Yei River state assembly, told Radio Tamazuj that the abductees, mainly youth, were driven to unknown locations.

“The armed men took 107 young men and it is not known who those people were. We also don’t know the whereabouts of the 107 young men up to now. I appeal to whoever abducted them to ensure their release because we are for peace,” he said.

For his part, Amule Felix, the administrator for the defunct state, confirmed the abduction of the civilians by unknown gunmen.

He condemned the incident, saying investigations are underway to determine who abducted the civilians. “We have been living in peace and such acts are bad for peaceful co-existence.  We condemn this in the strongest terms possible. This should not happen again,” said Amule.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the incident.