Suspected Murle men on Monday abducted a 9-year-old boy from Athooc County of South Sudan’s Jonglei state, a government official confirmed.
The incident occurred three days after the Dinka Bor youth started to withdraw from Murle villages to give peace a chance between the two communities.
The Athooc County Commissioner, Ajok Jacob Kuot, told Radio Tamazuj that the boy was abducted at night while sleeping with his mother.
“It was yesterday (Monday) at night when it was raining. About six Murle tribesmen came and broke into the house and abducted one child, a boy of 9 years named Kuot Alith Ajuai, “said the commissioner.
“It is a disappointment when our youth came back from Murle areas. We the government, we were actually calling upon them that we must work for peace, but more disappointment is continuing in our state,” he added.
The commissioner pointed out that the abductors headed toward Murle areas following the incident.
Meanwhile, Jacob Akech Dengdit, Jonglei’s Minister of Information said the latest incident is a clear violation of the ongoing peace talks between the two communities in Juba.
Minister Dengdit appealed to the people of Boma State to embrace peace, while urging the Murle youth whom he said are currently moving round Jonglei State to return to their areas.
Authorities in Boma state could not be reached for a comment.