11 people missing after passengers abducted on Yambio-Juba road

A local administrator in Lui Payam of Mundri East County says 11 people abducted during an ambush over the weekend remain missing.

Mura Monica, the Payam Administrator of Lui Payam in Mundri East County, Western Equatoria State, says a group of 28 passengers were ambushed and abducted while travelling from Yambio to Juba.

Monica says 11 people have since returned home after escaping from their abductors.

According to the administrator, those who escaped told authorities they were not physically assaulted but experienced hunger while in captivity.

Monica says the abductees were forced to carry alcohol and food items from the vehicles into the bush.

She says the women were allegedly forced to prepare food for the group while caring for their babies.

“The number of passengers that were released are 28. They came out in Lozoh Payam. Twenty-seven were put in a car and went to Juba. The other one, his wife is missing, so he is staying currently with the chief of the area. He said he is waiting for his wife to come, then they will go,” she said.

The administrator says the government responded after the incident by collecting the burnt vehicles and taking them first to Lui and later to Mundri.

However, she says there is currently no government search operation underway for those who remain missing.

Monica says the identity and whereabouts of the alleged abductors are known.