Armed youth in South Sudan - courtesy

Authorities in Jonglei have condemned four separate attacks carried out by suspected armed youth from Greater Pibor Administrative Area on travellers, the allegation Pibor denied.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 15, John Samuel Manyuon, the acting Minister of Information said the first attack occurred on August 10^th when a woman and two children, aged 1 and 13, were abducted.

According to him, the incident happened between Wernyol Payam of Twic East and Poktap Payam of Duk County.

Minister Manyuon also said on August 12^th, a boda boda rider was ambushed by 14-armed youth and a woman was abducted but managed to escape.

The attackers according to him also stole from her 300,000 South Sudanese pounds.

On the same day, Minister Manyuon says a Sudanese trader was also killed and commodities looted after a tractor carrying commodities fall into an ambush along the Bor – Twic East Road.

The statement further says two people were killed and another one went missing after an attack on passengers along Wernyol – Panyagor road on August 14^th.

“The government of Jonglei State condemns in the strongest term possible the continuation attacks, killing, and abduction of innocent and vulnerable civilians of Jonglei State,” said in the statement.

“The Jonglei state government is arguing the government of Greater Pibor Administrative Area to take necessary measures to bring back the abductees and talk to their youth to refrain from such continuous barbaric action against Jonglei.”

When contacted by Eye Radio, the Minister of Information in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area denied the accusation.

Abraham Kela assures that the government of Greater Pibor will investigate the abduction of children and women from Jonglei and make necessary arrangements for their safe return to their families.

“If something happens there, let them first call us. But fortunately, we just saw it on social media that youth from Greater Pibor Administrative Area is doing this, this is not really an official way,” said Kela.

“We the government, don’t have any information on the mobilization of youth that went to attack Jonglei,” he said.

“If our youth went to Jonglei and brought some cattle if it is really true that the youth came with children or cattle, we will find them and return them back, this is what the government of Greater Pibor Administrative Area will do,”