266 abducted children reunited with families in Jonglei, Greater Pibor  

JUBA, OCTOBER 12, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – At least 266 abducted children and women have been traced and reunited with their families between 2021 and 2023 in Greater Jonglei State, said top state official.

Denay Jock Chagor, Governor of Jonglei State, said his state had returned 255 abductees to GPAA while the authority of GPAA had handed over to them only 11 abductees between 2021 and 2023.

“I am happy to announce to this house that 266 abductees have been reunited with families from 2021 to 2023 in Jonglei State and Greater Pibor Administrative Area, GPAA,” Chagor said during his summon by TNLA on rising child abduction, brutal killing of traders in Nyirol County of Jonglei State on Tuesday.

“Statistically, the government of Jonglei State had recovered and returned 95.86 percent equivalent to 255 abductees to GPAA while the authority of GPAA had recovered and returned 4.14 percent equivalent to 11 abductees to Jonglei State.”

According to the state government, Jonglei State is working hand-in-hand with the authority of Greater Pibor to ensure a peaceful resolution of the conflict between the two communities.

For his part, Lokoli Ame Bullen, Chief Administrator of Greater Pibor Administrative Area described child abduction and cattle raiding as a “serious case” in the country which is causing “long-lasting pain” to the biological parents of the abducted children.

“To improve child abduction, we need national government and international agencies to provide development in the area such as road connectivity; provision of adequate services in the area, for instance, construction of schools and health facilities,” Bullen said.

He said cattle raiding is a recurring scenario that results in violence and robbing of property among the cattle-keeping communities.

He said to end cattle raiding and child abduction, youth need to engage in agriculture and other income-generating activities in a bid to improve their livelihoods.

“First of all, I would like to recognize it as a crime and also the main cause of violence among sisterly communities of GPAA and Jonglei State,” he said.