Greater Pibor launches campaign to return abducted children

JUBA – The Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) has launched a campaign to recover and return abducted children and women.

John Joseph Abulla, Deputy Chief Administrator of GPAA, said Chief Administrator Lokole Ame Bullen has ordered the return of all abducted children.

“We are making a campaign, the chief administrator issued order for combating child abduction, it is our task as the government of GPAA to make sure that each and every child that does not belong to GPAA will be returned,” Abulla said Saturday while handing over five abducted children to Central Equatoria State Deputy Governor Sarah Nene.

Abulla stated they face challenges in recovering children, including confrontations with abductors. He called for troops to assist in the recovery efforts.

Since January 2024, Abulla said they have recovered over 16 abducted children, returning them to various areas. He stressed the ongoing nature of the campaign.

Abulla urged cooperation in fighting criminals, emphasizing that targeting specific individuals, not entire communities, is key. He also called for the deployment of security forces to the GPAA to deter crime.

“We need forces to be deployed in Greater Pibor Administrative Area so that they can be able to deter the movement of the criminals, we need to focus on security, without peace we will not be able to deliver services to our communities,” Abulla added.