Pibor Administrative Area map. (File)

Pibor Administrative Area on Thursday handed over to the national government three trafficked children including two stolen from Kenya, this is according to Vertet County Commissioner.

Commissioner Kenche Maiju Korok who spoke to Eye Radio on Thursday from the Jebel Boma area that two Kenyan children and one South Sudanese were trafficked into the County.

The Kenyan siblings identified as Peter Julius,12, and Sitoti Julius, 8, were recovered on December 13, 2023, early this month.

On 13th December 2023, the Pibor authorities said the area police apprehended a Kenyan suspect only identified as John Juma, and his aide from the Jie area while coordinating the sale of the children.

The victims’ mother reportedly died some years and their father was said to be irresponsible.

Commissioner Maiju said the suspects confessed they took the children from their father under the pretext of taking them to Jebel Boma where there is a free education.

The suspects also stole another child from the Toposa region.

Commissioner Maiju told Eye Radio, that the children were handed over to the national government today.

“Those children were brought by a criminal who came from Kenya and connected by the South Sudanese criminal, I apprehended these two criminals who are from Kenya and South Sudan,” Commissioner Maiju told Eye Radio in an interview.

“The first child is called Peter, the other is called Saitoti, and there is another one from Taposa [South Sudanese],” he said.

“I took these children from the criminals and I have handed them over to the national government through state government to Juba via air transport.”

Last week, the Kenyan government discussed raising the issue with the South Sudan government in Juba.

The two governments emphasized the importance of conducting a thorough investigation into the matter and identifying the families of the two children.

They reiterated the commitment of South Sudan and Kenyan authorities to collaborate closely in this regard.