The Abyei Administrative Area has accused armed youths from Twic County in Warrap State of kidnapping three young men traveling from Wau to Abyei.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has heightened tensions between the two areas.
Bulis Koch, Abyei’s Minister of Information and Communication, claimed the armed group ambushed the victims near Abyei Town, where they were allegedly hiding in a dense forest. The assailants reportedly forced the men to an undisclosed location, though one managed to escape.
Koch told Radio Tamazuj that the recurring violence along the Abyei-Twic road has severely disrupted the livelihoods of the Ngok Dinka community. He urged authorities to rein in the youth and restore peace to the area.
“Three young men were traveling from Wau to Abyei when they were abducted at a location known as Hundred Killo (Kilo Buot). Twic armed youths took them into the forest. One escaped and reached a military garrison, but the fate of the other two remains unknown,” Koch explained.
The escapee reportedly warned that his companions could be in grave danger if not rescued promptly.
Koch also revealed that attempts to contact officials in Warrap State had been unsuccessful, further complicating efforts to resolve the situation.
In response, Twic County’s Acting Commissioner, John Mabior, denied the allegations, stating he was unaware of the incident. He pledged to investigate the matter thoroughly.
“I have not been informed of this incident by the security office or my executive director. We will ascertain what exactly happened. Our side of the border is calm, and we expect the same from the other side,” Mabior said.
The accusations come amid ongoing tensions between Abyei and Twic, with both sides frequently trading blame for cross-border violence.