Juba, South Sudan,
June 26, 2021 – The government of Jonglei State has said the seven women abducted in Uror County on Monday by armed men suspected to have come from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area have been rescued by police with help of local youth in the area.
Speaking to the media, Jonglei State Information Minister, Veronica William said, the women are safe but exhausted as a result of several days they spent in the bush.
“We are very happy to inform you that all the women who were abducted have been rescued, they are now doing well, the local young men and police in the area who pursued them have returned,” Veronica said.
“To recover something stolen by armed men you have to be armed also to get it back so I think they had clashes with abductors before recovering them but they are all fine,” Veronica added.
Acting Jonglei State police spokesman, Majak Daniel Wuor confirmed that all seven women were handed over to their community leaders.
“They were able to be rescued by police who went after them when attackers ran away with them and they were rescued,” Wuor was quoted to have said.
He said the police have put in place additional security measures to prevent abduction or cattle raids in the area but conceded that the law enforcement agency continues facing challenges in carrying out their duties including lack of police vehicles and poor communication network in the area.
Uror County Commissioner Tang Chatiem said the women are in good physical condition but they have not yet received medical treatment since there is no medicine in the area.
“We have been able to meet with them and then we encouraged them and also we support them with the things that we have in our County and we told them that this is the situation we have in South Sudan and between us and our neighbors this what they have been doing but nothing will be done because we already have peace with our brothers in Greater Pibor Administrative Area,” the commissioner said.
The seven women were abducted in Uror County on Monday while on their way to fetch water from a nearby water source. The incident coincided with the official visit of Governor Denay Jock Chagor to Uror County in Jonglei State.
