Gunmen in South Sudan

Two siblings have been reportedly abducted by suspected armed men in Liriya Payam of Juba County, according to the authorities.

Christopher Sabit who is the Payam Executive Director has identified the victims as 4-year-old Khamis Lilly OKiden and her elder sister Ifon Awatong who is 7.

The incident comes nearly a week after a mother paid a 25,000-pound ransom to abductors to save her -2-year-old baby from being taken away.

The lactating mother by the name Emelda Sebit Lino was on her way to the Langabu area from Liriya when the abductors confronted her.

Speaking to Eye Radio, the local Payam official said the two sisters were abducted from their home during day time on Tuesday, October 24.

“They were two children abducted, one is called Ifon Awatog Okiden 7 years and the other one is called Khamisa Lily Okiden the age of Khamis Lily is 4 years old, both are children of the same person, and their mother is called Awili John Lugongtomoy,” said Sebit.

The latest incident brings the total of children abducted from the area since the beginning of this year to eight.

The incident occurred about two weeks after local officials alleged that armed abductors numbering about five were seen roaming around Liriya Payam in Juba County, leading to panic among the population.

Sebit has reiterated his call for the deployment of SSPDF and other organized forces to stop the recurrence of the incidents.

“With this abduction, there is a great fear now among the people, some people are talking of leaving the area, and this is very dangerous,” said Sebit.

“There is continue of abduction and yet there is no action taken by the government to protect the people,” he said.

“I think this is the situation on the ground now, I fear and I need the response of the government quickly, I want to deploy the forces in Langabu now not tomorrow.”