Authorities in Kapoeta North County of Eastern Equatoria State say one of the two children abducted last week has been rescued by the area youth.
On Sunday last week, the county authorities reported that a woman was killed and her two children abducted by suspected armed youth from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area in Nakwaperit Boma, Naakwa Payam.
Kapoeta North commissioner, Emmanuel Epone Lolimo, told Radio Tamazuj that one of the children was rescued and has been reunited with her family.
“The youth followed the abductors and on the way, they were able to fight and then they recovered one child. The youth have the role to protect the community. So they took it upon themselves to follow the footmarks of the abductors and in the process of gunfire exchange, they were able to recover one child but no there were no casualties on both sides. Now I have reunited the child with family especially the aunty because now she is an orphan, she is really a total orphan, no father, no mother at the moment," he said.
He added that the youth retreated after the abductors crossed over to their territory, saying the matter will now be handled by authorities in the two areas.
“At the moment now, the abductors have entered into their territory and it could be risky to leave the youth to follow because our policy is peaceful existence," he added. "We want this process to be taken administratively through communicating to the relevant authorities at that side. The most important thing is to exchange communication and to speed up the process also, this effort of ensuring this child is recovered."
For his part, Cypriano Peter, the area’s Member of Parliament, said efforts to rescue the other child have started. He revealed that they are meeting authorities from Pibor about the matter.
"We will meet with the area MPs on Monday. We just want to arrange and to organize with them to meet together as the MPs of Kapoeta North and area of Murle at least this issue to be reduced and these criminals should face justice,” he said.
Charles Okullu Cyprian, the Chairperson for the Civil Society Network in Eastern Equatoria State says although one child was rescued, child abductors should face the law.
He said, "The issue of child abduction in Eastern Equatoria is not something new. It has been recurring but no approach has been done to make sure the recovery of the children is done appropriately. What we normally hear is, some children are brought back but nothing is done to the perpetrator, so the business of abduction continues. The two governments of Eastern Equatoria and then the Pibor Administrative Area must work hard because they are neighbors. Neighbors cannot harm each other."
This is the first reported child abduction case in the area since January, according to officials.
Attempts to reach authorities of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area were futile.