Gunmen abducted a group of 15 construction workers at gunpoint along the Yei-Lasu road on Tuesday, a manager of the construction company said.
It isn’t clear who the gunmen were or the fate of some men, who were all working on the Ayisa Bridge in South Sudan’s Yei River State.
Peter Mayen, managing director of the Rhino Construction Company, stated eight workers were later released while others including foreign nationals are still being held hostages in the bush by their abductors.
The manager called on the state government to ensure the safety and release of the kidnapped workers unconditionally, saying construction works have stopped at the site due to insecurity.
“We have suspended our construction works along the Yei-Lasu road until the situation returns to normal, and we are calling on the government to stabilize the security and protect the workers in the area” said peter.
For his part, Stephen Ladu Onesmo, information minister in the proposed Yei River State, said the state government and country authorities are working hard to know the kidnapped worker’s whereabouts.