Greater Pibor authorities have called on their Jonglei counterparts to trace and return women abducted during attacks in Lekuangole County. Courtesy image

Authorities in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area are calling on the Jonglei State government to facilitate the safe return of 81 women and children allegedly abducted during an April attack in Lekuangole County.

Speaking to Eye Radio this morning, Jacob Werchum, the Minister of Information of Greater Pibor Administrative Area, accused suspected armed youth from Akobo County of carrying out attacks that left dozens dead and several others abducted.

According to Jacob Werchum, at least 17 people were killed and 12 others wounded during an attack on cattle camps in Lekuangole County on 26 April.

Werchum also alleged that 81 women and children were abducted, while a total of 1,528 heads of cattle were looted during the violence.

“After a month of comprehensive assessments on the recent attacks on Wuno Payam, Lekuangole County, by armed youth from Jonglei State, the government of Greater Pibor Administrative Area finally come up with a final report on tragic and violence event that took place on April 26 this year. So, during the attack, 17 innocent civilians were killed and 12 others sustained injuries,” he explained.

The Greater Pibor authorities are now urging the Jonglei State government to intervene and ensure the immediate repatriation of the abductees as part of efforts to de-escalate tensions and restore peace between communities.

“The attackers also looted a total of 1,528 head of cattle. Additionally, 81 women and children were abducted. So, the leadership of the Pibor Administrative Area strongly condemned this unprovoked act of violence and called on the authority of Jonglei state to diligently document the number of abducted women and children and to intensify efforts to recover and carefully return them to their rightful families,” he added.

Minister Werchum also appealed to local youth to refrain from retaliatory violence and instead support ongoing peace and reconciliation efforts.

He condemned the attacks and called on the national government and peace partners to strengthen security interventions and community dialogue initiatives in the area.

Efforts to reach authorities in Jonglei State were unsuccessful.

Intercommunal violence and child abductions remain major drivers of insecurity in parts of Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, despite repeated peace agreements and reconciliation efforts by local leaders and humanitarian agencies.