Armed bandits who kidnapped Unity state traders in Jonglei apprehended – authorities

JUBA – South Sudan police forces in the country’s Jonglei state have announced that they have arrested at least five of several criminals who kidnaped 15 businessmen who were travelling to Unity State by a ferry from Jonglei state.

In July, authorities in Unity state said 15 businessmen heading to southern Unity State had been attacked between Jonglei and Unity state by armed criminals who robbed at least 305 million South Sudanese Pounds and USD 1,100.

Jonglei state police chief, Gen. Joseph Mayen Akook said some of the money have been handed over to the owners in Bor and that give of the suspects who have been arrested are being investigated for crimes along the Nile.

“Three days ago, we handed over 1,990,000 SSP and 1,100 USD to the owners in Bor. Shortly after the incident, we launched a crackdown on those people and so we arrested 5 of them in Mandoba Island and recovered that amount,” he told Radio Tamazuj.

“They told us that the remaining money is with somebody else in Juba. So, hopefully, we will be able to recover that sum. We experienced several such incidents along the Nile. We will not just free these people. They are being investigated and will be arraigned before the court,” he added.

One of the businessmen who were victims, Matiel Rik, welcomed the move taken by the Jonglei authorities.

“We received some of the money which was looted from us last month. We are left with 1.5 million SSP and we hope the officials in Jonglei will also recover it,” Rik said.