Ayuel is a South Sudanese preacher and founder of Stone International Church in Juba. He says he was mentored spiritually by Nigerian televangelist T. B. Joshua and later founded his ministry in 2009.
In a statement issued on Friday, Aweil East Commissioner Garang Thiang Deng said county authorities intercepted four buses carrying children aged between five and 12 after organizers allegedly claimed they were being taken to Juba under a government scholarship programme.
The buses reportedly entered Madhol Payam and Marol Akot on the night of 5 May before local officials contacted the commissioner to verify whether the programme had government approval.
“I immediately informed them that the County Authorities had absolutely no knowledge of such a program,” Garang said.
He added that there was “no official communication, no authorization, and no documentation” from either the national or state government regarding the alleged scholarship scheme.
The commissioner said security forces were ordered to stop the buses and escort them to Wanyjok headquarters for investigation.
According to the statement, those transporting the children claimed they were taking vulnerable and street children to Juba for education opportunities.
However, county authorities said they demanded official documents from the Ministry of General Education and other institutions, but none were provided.
“Shockingly, none of the requested documents were produced. No authorization letters, no official approvals, and no government directives were presented to support their claims,” Garang said.
He said investigations later revealed that the operation was based on “deception, misinformation, and false claims intended to mislead innocent parents and vulnerable communities”.
“What was presented to the public as a ‘government scholarship program’ was, in reality, an unlawful and suspicious operation which the County Government firmly considers to be an act of human trafficking,” the statement added.
Garang said all 245 children were later returned safely to their families after authorities ordered the buses to turn back.
“I am pleased to inform the public that all 245 children were successfully reunited with their families,” he said.
The commissioner also called on South Sudan’s Ministry of Interior and national security agencies to investigate the cleric and his activities, alleging that a similar incident involving about 500 children was reported in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State in 2023.
“Up to this moment, many families remain disconnected from their children, while others still do not know whether their children are alive or dead,” he claimed.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement of children or unauthorised transportation of minors. Ayuel is yet to respond to the allegations.
He rose to public prominence through large church gatherings, viral worship videos and humanitarian activities, including support for orphans and vulnerable children.
In February 2024, he transported nearly 600 children from Northern Bahr el Ghazal State to Juba, where they will study in the church school.
The children, mostly orphaned and unaccompanied, were transported under government authorization and have joined about 2,000 other children already being hosted and sponsored by the church.
The initiative has been met with overwhelming support from the community, as evidenced by the large crowd at the Juba International Airport upon his arrival.
According to his ministry’s official profile, Ayuel studied medicine at the University of Juba before leaving the medical field to pursue Christian ministry full-time.
The church says he later founded his ministry in 2009 and expanded its outreach through charity programs and media broadcasts on Heart TV.
In recent years, he has attracted both strong support from followers, who view him as a spiritual leader, and criticism from some members of the public and media outlets, which often describe him as a self-proclaimed prophet.
