Barricade tape for crime scene (Courtesy)

Lafon County Commissioner in Eastern Equatoria State said at least seven children were abducted in the area since the start of this year.

Okach Magiso Aqweri says almost all the incidents of abduction occurred along the Lafon-Mogiri highway.

He said the perpetrators are targeting civilians fleeing a severe hunger in the area.

The latest incident was on June 22, 2023, when two children were forcefully taken away from their families while trekking to Juba.

“On June 22, the following children Akira Tipo, a 12-year-old boy and Achicha Ayopa, a 14-year-old girl were abducted along Lafon-Mogiri road at 6:00 AM 77 kilometers from Lafon town,” Magiso aid in a statement.

The children were footing from Marguna Payam to Juba with their families – via Lafon road when they were captured by a group of traffickers moving with other hostages, he said.

Commissioner Magiso said eyewitnesses have identified the perpetrators as Murle tribesmen.

The local official said this is not the first kidnapping incident while recalling five other abductions from February to May 2023.

He said the other abductees are 14-year-old girl Akuka Fedele Ulum abducted on February 3rd, and two-year-old Uyoo Juma (boy) abducted on May 27th.

Others are four-year-old Ubaa Uthoo John (boy) abducted, five-year-old Amijo Umile Bilton and one-year-old Ukuka Ujure Uwingja, all abducted on May 30, 2023.

“In all these incidents of child abduction, the foot marks of the perpetrators pursued by the local youth, are leading towards Greater Pibor Administrative Area,” he said.

Efforts to reach out to Pibor authorities for comment proved futile.

Eye Radio contacted the Chief Administrator Lokole Amey Bullen but he declined to comment saying he was in the church.

Ubote said he is shocked by the constant abduction and blames these incidents on “hunger that displaces local people who opt to access Juba through the risky Lafon-Mogiri road.”

– Severe hunger –

Lafon County – bordering Pibor Administrative Area to the north and Central Equatoria State to the west – has been hit by acute hunger following crops failure in the last harvest in 2022.

Commissioner Magiso said the poor harvest was caused by flooding, army worms, grasshoppers and wildlife that have destroyed crops in the area.

“The local population is now deserting the area in search of food since the humanitarian situation is deteriorating in the county. We cannot help the situation as the county authorities because we do not have any capacity to purchase food items,” he lamented.

He appeals to humanitarian agencies to intervene and provide food to local population who are now struggling to feed themselves.