Nine women who were abducted from the Abyei area last week by suspected armed youth from Twic County's Ajakuac Payam have voluntarily been freed, authorities in the Abyei Area have said.

The women, who were released by Twic armed youth in Ajakuac, were received by officials from the Abyei Administrative Area on Monday.

Bulis Koch, Abyei Information Minister, told Radio Tamazuj Tuesday that they received nine women but one who ran into the forest during captivity was still missing.

"The ten women were abducted and taken to Twic especially Ajakuac Payam in Warrap State's Twic County by Titweng (cattle defense youth) along with Messeriya sheep were released but one woman ran to the bush during the attack,” the minister said.

Koch said the women, abducted in Mading Buoi village in Ameth Aguok County in Abyei area were later ferried to Abyei by United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

He said the women were first taken to the hospital for medical check-up before they were handed over to state officials.

"We didn't get one woman and UNISFA with its high technology search used drones but failed to trace her but nine women were released," Koch further said.

Minister Koch said the women were heavily fatigued after trekking long distances during their abduction.

The minister said the women were later reunited with their family members in in Mading Buoi village.

Simon Aguek Chan, Twic County Commissioner, denied knowledge of any recent abduction in his county.

"I don't have any information about abducted women by Ajakuac armed youth. I have just talked to Ajakuac Payam administrator and they have said nothing about that. The security situation is stable, even people who were displaced in Anyiel-Kuac are slowly coming back to Turalei," he said.

He, however, said the only incident he knew about was the Biemkat clash when Nuer armed youth from Mayom County fought over goats and sheep they had raided from Anyiel-Kuac.

“These youths fought in my area but they belong to Mayom County in Unity state and I don't know that women were abducted by Ajakuac armed youth," he said.