Authorities of Kapoeta North County in Eastern Equatoria State have reported that a woman was killed and her two children abducted by unknown armed men on Sunday.
The incident happened in Nakwaperit Boma, Naakwa Payam of Kapoeta North County while the woman was heading home from her garden. The assailants brutally murdered her and walked away with her two children below the age of six years.
Kapoeta North County commissioner, Emmanuel Epone Lolimo, confirmed the incident to Radio Tamazuj while heading to the area on Wednesday to assess the situation.
“I am right now heading to that location to get clear details in terms of the names of the children and the deceased. The incident happened on Sunday at 3:45 pm when the woman was coming back from the garden with her children,” Commissioner Lolimo said. “She was killed and her children were taken. The youth followed up the footmarks and they led to the Greater Pibor Administrative Area. That is why they concluded that these are the Murle who have taken these children.”
He said the incident has caused panic among the citizens at a time when everyone is focusing on peace implementation.
Meanwhile, Cypriano Peter, the area’s Member of Parliament, said he was informed about the unfortunate incident by the county commissioner.
“Our commissioner informed us but he is still collecting the data. We are still waiting for him to inform us even about the sex of the children, are they boys or girls, and where this action took place,” Peter said.
He said that they will meet their counterparts (Members of Parliament) from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area to discuss the issue to avoid further occurrences.
“We are waiting for that information then we will meet the MPs of the area (GPAA). We shall share with them, we don’t like these kinds of activities to be continued,” he added.
This is reportedly the first incident of child abduction registered this year in Kapoeta North County though several children have been abducted in Torit County, particularly in Kudo Payam.
Last Saturday night, three children were abducted from Torit town and they have since not been recovered.