Local authorities in Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) have recovered 11 children abducted from parts of the neighboring Jonglei state.
The former abductees, aged between 7 to 16, were recovered during a recovery mission by GPAA officials in Likuangole county over the past weeks.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, Abraham Kelang, the GPAA information minister, said the former abductees arrived at GPAA headquarters, Pibor town, Thursday and that arrangements were being carried out to reunite them with their families in the Lou Nuer areas.
“All the children aged 7 to 16 and among them are 5 girls. They were all abducted from Lou Nuer areas like Waat, Uror, and Walgak last year, with some even months ago because they cannot speak Murle,” Kelang said. “They were recovered after a directive by our chief administrator. Now they are with us in Pibor town pending transportation to their families for a reunion.”
The information minister pointed out the recovery mission will continue to free all abductees within GPAA territories and he also appealed to Jonglei State counterparts to emulate their move.
Nyang Korok, the deputy chairperson for GPAA anti-corruption said the recovery is a peace gesture.
“Those 11 kids were brought by the commissioner of Likuangole, John Gogol yesterday (Thursday). This is a good gesture because it will help trust between us and our Lou Nuer neighbors. As a government, we want peace. We are not in support of abductors and which is why we are after them,” he said.
For his part, Commissioner James Bol Makuey of Nyirol County said they are aware of the recovery and lauded it as a peace gesture.
“I talked to some of those children yesterday (Thursday). They were happy and we are also happy here with the families. It is a good move from the GPAA government and that is why we keep telling our youth to be calm and that everything will be settled through negotiation because criminals from Pibor act on their own,” he said.