Two girls recently returned from Greater Pibor Administrative Area – courtesy photo

Authorities in Greater Pibor Administrative Area have handed over two girls who were abducted from Jonglei State and called on Jonglei authorities to help return children and women taken from Greater Pibor.

According to Greater Pibor officials, the girls had been living in Gumuruk County after being kidnapped by criminal elements from Nyirol and Duk Counties.

They were handed over to Jonglei State authorities in Bicbich Boma of Gumuruk County during a recent peace conference.

Officials appealed to the Jonglei State government to reciprocate by returning 17 children and women from Manyabol Payam who were abducted earlier this year by criminal elements from Jonglei State.

Both areas have long suffered from repeated cattle raiding and abductions of children and women.

The recent peace conference was aimed at reconciling communities at the grassroots level and ending the cycle of violence.