A civil society group is calling for the release of hundreds of children it says were abducted by forces loyal to insurgent Wesley Welebe in Amadi State.

The civil society group, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, says it received information that some children are missing in Amadi. The children were kidnapped last week by the armed group.

The Executive Director, Edmond Yakani, told Eye Radio that they received calls from parents of the missing children.

Mr Edmond says the parents believe that their children were kidnapped by forces loyal to Wesley Welebe, who is allegiant to the former vice-president Dr Riek Machar.

“We’re appealing to the leadership of IO to respond; if they are the ones who abducted these children, immediately they should really free them,” Mr Yakani told Eye Radio.

According to the State Minister Information, Victor Mabruk, soldiers attacked Kediba last week and its neighboring areas and took the children, mostly between the ages of 14 and 15 years.

Mr Mabruk told Eye Radio that the children were taken by a senior officer, who abandoned the SPLA in July and joined the anti-government forces.

[After [the attack], they resorted to kidnapping children, mostly of the age of 14-15 years, and then drove them towards a new camp which they are trying to open midway,” the minister said.

The camp is said to be located near Minga, Kediba and Wiro areas.

James Gatdet, the spokesperson of Dr Machar, says their forces under Wesley Welebe have not kidnapped any children.