An 11-year-old child named Itao Lowesio who had been abducted by Turkana tribesmen from Kenya has been recovered and was reunited with his family in Lopua Boma, Kapoeta East County in Eastern Equatoria State on Wednesday.
The return of the child followed collaborative efforts between the authorities of Kapoeta East County in South Sudan and Turkana County in Kenya.
The incident stemmed from cyclic cattle raids between the neighboring communities, particularly the Toposa and Turkana, which have been marked by the theft of cattle and the abduction of children. In the latest occurrence, suspected Turkana criminals abducted a child and raided eight head of cattle in Lopua Boma, Narus Payam, Kapoeta East County, on 28 September.
Abdalla Angelo Lokeno, the Commissioner of Kapoeta East County, said that the abducted child was accompanied by Kenyan officials and returned at around 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
“Indeed, a child who had been abducted was successfully returned from Kenya. The child, Itao Lokuma, 11, was kidnapped and taken along with the cattle he was grazing last month,” he said. “We coordinated with the Kenyan government to ensure his safe return and he was reunited with his family in Lopua Boma, Narus Payam, at around 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The family was overjoyed by the reunion. It is essential to note that while cattle theft is not uncommon, child abduction is a serious concern.”
“If these incidents persist, they may escalate tensions and I am concerned about potential repercussions,” Commissioner Lokeno added.
For his part, Jeff Longoria, a South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) lawmaker in the Eastern Equatoria State Legislative Assembly representing Lopua in Kapoeta East County, confirmed the joyful reunion and thanked the Kenyan government for facilitating the return of the abducted child.
“Raiding between the Toposa and the Turkana has been happening for a long time. The Turkana came and raided cattle with no intention of abducting a child and they handed the child to their government in Lokichokio. People should refrain from such acts. It also tells us that the Turkana had only come to raid cattle and not to abduct children,” he said. “I urge the Toposa not to engage in any revenge child abductions that will create conflict because it is the children that will suffer.”
Meanwhile, Flora Sebit Jada, a civil society activist in Eastern Equatoria, commended the collaborative efforts between the governments of Kenya and South Sudan in addressing child abduction issues.
“Children are our future but when we start destroying their rights by kidnapping them, it is not good,” she urged. “There should be cooperation among these governments so that we can see how to address such issues. Children should be sent to school and children have a right to go to school to improve their future and support their families.”
Efforts to contact the Turkana County authorities in Kenya were futile.