At least four girls were abducted in a road ambush carried out by an armed group on the outskirts of Duk Pagak County of Jonglei State on Friday, a local official said.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, James Yien Jal, the county commissioner said the incident occurred Friday morning when some locals were attacked while carrying a medical consignment to the county’s Panyok area.

“Those 20 young people including 15 girls were attacked on the road while carrying medicines to the Panyok area. No one was killed. Four girls aged between 15 and 16 are still missing up to now while the rest escaped unhurt,” he said.

He added, “Till now, the local youth who pursued the assailants did not return since Friday. The criminals moved towards Boma State.”

Yien urged Boma authorities to investigate the incident.

For his part, John Kaka, Boma’s Information minister denied knowledge of the incident but promised that they would monitor, investigate, and rescue the abductees if the assailants were from Boma.