A group of at least 89 schoolboys forcibly recruited by an armed group in South Sudan's Upper Nile State have been missing from their homes for nearly a week already, according to the United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Child welfare agency UNICEF today condemned the forced recruitment in a press release, without specifically stating the date on which the boys were abducted.

In response to follow-up questions, UNICEF Communications Officer John Budd told Radio Tamazuj today that the abductions took place on "February 15 and into February 16."

"The armed group was there in the community for Sunday and part of Monday," he said, referring to the group that recruited the boys. "Six teachers have also been taken," he added.

The UNICEF official also clarified that the abduction happened not literally while the boys were doing their exams but rather while they were "preparing" for the examination.

Although the UN agency has not identified by name the armed group responsible for the abductions, it reported that the recruitment took place in Wau Shilluk in Upper Nile State. This area is claimed by the government as one of its areas of control and is defended by government-allied Shilluk militia commanded by Gen. Johnson Olony.

The UN agency based its announcement at least in part on information gathered by a UNICEF education team.

Budd was asked whether UNICEF was unsure from its fieldwork which armed group had carried out the abduction or simply was unwilling to say.

He responded, "We have no verifiable evidence."

Several clashes have taken place during the last week in areas near where the boys were abducted. Both Wau Shilluk -- the IDP community where they were recruited -- and Kaka and Haluf where clashes took place -- are in the Shilluk Kingdom on the Nile's west bank.

Over the last week rebel SPLM-IO faction troops have struck south from Manyo County toward Fashoda County, but are not reported to have reached as far south as Wau Shilluk. South Sudan's defense minister told Radio Tamazuj this week that the SPLM-IO faction attacks were repulsed.

This means that the children were recruited near to a frontline area and while clashes were taking place.

Photo: A child soldier in Pibor, South Sudan (Al Jazeera)

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