Authorities in Eastern Equatoria state have called for the return of two children abducted by suspected youths from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area along the Torit-Juba road last week.
The children, identified as Alfred Dominic, 4, and Stella Dominic, 2, were reportedly seized on May 19 after a passenger vehicle travelling from Juba to Torit broke down at Jebel Cotton, between Lowoi and Kudo payams.
Torit County Commissioner Charles Lokang Italian said the children were taken from their mother, Viola Dominic, during the incident.
Italian said members of the Monyiemiji community tracked the suspected abductors’ trail for several hours toward Mangalla before turning back after they crossed into another territory.
“We are coordinating with the government of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area to ensure the children are apprehended and returned to their family,” Italian said. “The governor of Eastern Equatoria recently visited Pibor to discuss cooperation against child abductions and cattle raiding. Such acts should not happen between neighbouring communities.”
He urged authorities in Pibor to discourage youth from engaging in abductions and cross-border raids, adding that Eastern Equatoria residents should be able to travel safely along the Juba-Torit highway.
Italian said traffic along the road had largely remained calm despite sporadic security incidents.
Jacob Wercum, information minister in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, said authorities there had not yet received official information about the alleged abduction.
“This is the first time we are hearing about the incident,” Wercum said. “The Juba-Torit road has experienced several security incidents involving armed groups and criminals, so investigations are needed before blaming a specific community.”
He said authorities in Pibor would investigate whether youths from the area were involved and called for an independent inquiry by Eastern Equatoria officials.
Rights activist Flora Sebit Jada of the Women Agency for Progress Organization (WAPO) condemned the continued abduction of children in Eastern Equatoria, describing it as a “modern form of slavery”.
“Women and families continue to suffer because of these abductions,” she said. “Authorities and communities must strengthen security and address those responsible for making roads unsafe.”
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