A cameraman working with the governor of South Sudan’s Lol State has been abducted by unknown gunmen in Wau town. The journalist identified as Albino Andrea was kidnapped from the family house at Jebel-Khair residential area in the early hours of Wednesday.
Albino narrowly survived the recent attack on the governor’s house in Raja town. Reportedly, he fled to Deim Zubeir town, a far distance, before reaching Wau town in recent days.
Andrea Jofi, the cameraman’s father, said that a group of six men raided their house around 3:00 am and took his son to an unknown destination.
The father expressed concern about the safely of his son, saying Albino had been working wholeheartedly as cameraman in the office of Governor Rizik Zachariah Hassan since 2012.
“It was in the night around 3:00. I heard someone calling Albino, Albino, Albino, so I went out and asked who is calling Albino, when Albino tried to come out, about six people stormed the house and took him,” said the father.
“Albino knew nothing, when he came he remained at home, his friends used to come to visit him at home, he did not go anywhere. But two days ago, he said that he wanted to take leave so that he can go to Juba where he will spend two months, he told me that he will travel on Friday, but he has been abducted this morning, so this is what happened,” he added.
For its part, the Union of South Sudan Journalists in Wau condemned the kidnapping of the cameraman and all abusive acts against journalists. The office appealed to the armed group to release Albino immediately and ensure his safety.
Multiple sources also confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that the governor’s press secretary Joseph Gabriel Mali has been receiving phone threats from unknown callers after his arrival in Wau town recently.