Armed bandits abducted three children in separate attacks in Pochalla County of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) on Wednesday, authorities said.
Owety Olung, the acting Pochalla County executive director, told Radio Tamazuj, “In the first incident, a 10-year-old girl identified as Ariet Oboya was kidnapped by armed criminals in the outskirts of Pochalla town. The child was in the company of three other people during the incident. They were moving from Ajwara Payam to the town.”
He added, “The same Wednesday afternoon, some locals while moving from the Teido area to Nyium to receive relief food, were attacked. An 11-month-old baby boy called Jwokapera Okalaka Othou, and a baby girl Bethlehem Okello were abducted from their mothers."
The local official pointed out that there were no casualties during the incidents and the county remained calm despite the abductions. He blamed the attack on armed bandits suspected to have crossed from GPAA’s Pibor County.
For his part, Lokali Amae, the GPAA chief administrator, said he had knowledge of the incident and that he will be engaging traditional leaders in Pibor County to recover the abductees.
“Yes, I am aware of the incident. I will work with the chiefs to ensure that the children are recovered. Child abductions have become a means of livelihood for youth here and for the practice to be eradicated, aid agencies should help create economic activities that will keep youth engaged,” he said.
Lt. Colonel Amati Ochan, the Pochalla County police inspector, confirmed the incident saying it was unfortunate but that they were not able to arrest any suspects.
Cattle raids are commonplace, often accompanied by child abductions, among the greater Jonglei communities.