The authorities in Jonglei State’s Akobo County said they have rescued two girls who were under the captivity of armed Murle youth from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) since Saturday.
Akobo County Commissioner Puok Nyang Tutjiek told Radio Tamazuj Thursday that the duo were among three girls who were abducted while traveling between the town of Walgak in the western part of the county and Langkien in Nyirol County.
“Since Saturday, our youth have been pursuing them (Murle youth), and it was Wednesday evening that they were spotted and confronted,” he said. “While they were fleeing, they also pushed the three girls to follow them. However, the girls declined prompting the shooting to death of one of them (girls) by the abductors.”
Commissioner Puok praised the local youth for their bravery in rescuing the abductees and urged his GPAA counterparts to stop the relentless cross-border attacks.
On his part, Oleyo Akwer Nyalus, the GPAA Information minister, condemned the attack and reiterated their commitment to working for peace with neighbors. He blamed attacks in parts of Jonglei State on individuals he called “criminals and outcasts.”
“As a government, we are committed to peaceful coexistence,” he asserted. “These people involved in abduction and cattle rustling are anti-peace individuals working without our consent.”