Bentiu-bound boat detained by armed youth in Jonglei

BENTIU – A boat carrying goods and passengers from Juba to Bentiu in Unity State has been detained by armed youth in an area along the Nile River in Jonglei State, according to the boat’s team leader.

The boat was reportedly seized on Sunday, November 19^th, without any apparent justification.

The armed youth have demanded a ransom of 900,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) from the passengers and crew.

“We were detained on Sunday, the 19th of November,” the boat’s team leader, John Jal Matiek, told Sudans Post from the detention site. “They charged us 900,000 SSP because they claim we are using a river route that no other boat has ever used before.”

Matiek, who identified the area as “seven passages” revealed that they have been in touch with the Jonglei State authorities, who have pledged to dispatch security forces to the area where the boat is being held captive.

“Fortunately, we have enough food and water,” Matiek assured. “There was no food available in the area where we were detained.”

Matiek emphasized that no one has been harmed during the detention, but that the armed youth have stolen an unspecified quantity of food items.

“I reported the incident to the relevant authorities in the Jonglei State headquarters,” Matiek declared. “The boat remains detained as of today, November 22^nd.”

Meanwhile, Jonglei State Police Commissioner Gen. Elia Costa Agustino has disputed the claim that the boat was detained by armed youth.

“The boat was not detained by armed youth,” Agustino asserted. “It lost its way due to inclement weather. This is a false accusation.”