Police in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State, reported that three aid workers were abducted by unidentified gunmen along the Yei-Maridi road. The victims, working for an international organisation based in Yei, were travelling to Minyori Boma to collect agricultural data and conduct community sensitisation. According to Major General Yoasa Lujang Kamba, the county's Chief Inspector of Police, the abduction occurred at 9:00 a.m. on Monday when six armed men stopped their vehicle in the four-mile area.
The gunmen took the driver and two data collectors, leaving the vehicle running on the road. General Lujang stated that the abductors seemed to be in a hurry, possibly fearing that other people might arrive. Later, some church members travelling from Tore to Yei found the vehicle abandoned and reported the incident to counterintelligence. The police chief said counterintelligence personnel recovered the vehicle and handed it over to the organisation.
The three workers are believed to have been taken towards Minyori Boma, about 11 miles from Yei, but their whereabouts remain unknown. General Lujang stated that the suspected kidnappers later contacted the victims' organisation through the driver and demanded 8,000 US dollars for the release of the three workers. The police chief tried calling the number but the suspected kidnappers switched off their phone after he identified himself.
General Lujang says security personnel are continuing efforts to locate the three workers and establish contact with the suspected kidnappers. Similar incidents have been reported along the Yei-Maridi road, including areas around six miles from Kaya. The police chief expressed concern over the security situation in the region, citing previous incidents.
The abduction has raised concerns about the safety of aid workers in the region. The international organisation involved has not been named, but it is based in Yei and operates in the area. The incident has sparked fears that the security situation in Central Equatoria State may be deteriorating.
The South Sudanese police are working to rescue the abducted aid workers. General Lujang appealed for cooperation from the public to help locate the three workers. The incident has highlighted the challenges faced by aid workers in South Sudan, where conflict and insecurity are common.
The incident is under investigation, and police are working to establish the identities of the suspected kidnappers. The three aid workers remain missing, and their fate is unknown.
Key points
- The abduction occurred along the Yei-Maridi road in Central Equatoria State, South Sudan.
- The suspected kidnappers demanded 8,000 US dollars for the release of the three workers.
- Security personnel are continuing efforts to locate the three workers and establish contact with the suspected kidnappers.
