Five children were last week rescued from their abductors in South Sudan’s Boma State, an official said on Tuesday.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, the state minister for gender, child and social welfare, Lidia Peter Agolory said local authorities in Boma State rescued the children during a recovery mission in greater Gumuruk.
She said three of the children have been reunited with their loved ones in Jonglei State, while the rest are still with her.
“On Monday, we handed over a child to authorities in Jonglei State. And last week, we recovered and handed over two children to Jonglei State. But now, there are two more children with me at home. They aged between 2 to 4 years old,” said Agolory.
“We are yet to identify their parents. But I think they were abducted from Equatoria region,” she added.
The minister urged the media and non-governmental organizations to help her ministry in tracing the parents of children still with her.
She condemned the practice of abducting children in the state, stressing that her government is fully committed towards ending it.
According Agolory, state lawmakers passed a law that will ensure anyone convicted of child abduction spends 15 years in jail, while a seven year jail sentence awaits those who buy abducted children.
The minister further appealed to non-governmental organizations in the country to provide vocational training skills and jobs opportunities to keep those involved in child abduction engaged.
Great Jonglei state communities have for long been wrangling leading to cattle raids and child abductions. Several peace agreements to end hostilities were signed, but could not hold.