The elder brother of a priest who was kidnapped in Western Equatoria State’s Nagero County has called on those who abducted him to release him or take him to court if he committed any crime.
Last week, authorities in Western Equatoria state reported the disappearance of Father Luke Yugue who disappeared on 26 April along the Nagero- Tambura Road while traveling on a motorbike taxi (boda-boda) in an area called Ngoni.
The whereabouts of the priest remains unknown.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, the abducted priest’s brother, John Sangara, said since the disappearance of his brother on 26 April, there has been no information about his whereabouts.
“Luke Yuggue is my younger brother and he was appointed by right Rev. Bishop Ebirow to work in Nagero and Tombura. He was staying in Tombura and was going to pay teachers in Nagero but on his way back to Tombura, he disappeared and has not been seen up to today,” he said. “We still do not know anything about him until now. We have been in contact with the commissioner of Tombura and he did his part and I even talked to the bishop of the diocese about him.”
Sangara said the priest’s family is in dilemma and is processing a court case about the disappearance of their family member.
“In Tombura County where he originated, our family is yet to open an official case and in Yambio, we are going to open an official case with the police,” he stated. “My brother was kidnapped because his whereabouts are still not known and we do not know if he is being held by opposition forces because what we know is that Namatina is under the control of the opposition forces.”
“My message is that my brother is a priest preaching to the people the world of God and he is not somebody in government administration so I need him to be brought back,” Sangara pleaded.
Last week, Western Equatoria State Police Commissioner Major General Albino Utho Mariano confirmed the disappearance of the priest and said security forces are searching for him.