Mother killed, her children abducted in Eastern Equatoria

After years of silence, child abductors are back to Eastern Equatoria’s Kapoeta North County where a mother returning from her garden was brutally murdered and one two of her children abducted in Naakwa Payam on 15^th, August.

The unknown gunmen killed the woman and abducted her seven-year-old girl and two-year old son.

Thanks to authorities in Eastern Equatoria state’s Kapoeta North County who rescued the girl who was abducted along with her two-year-old brother about two weeks ago.

The Commissioner of Kapoeta North County, Epone Emmanuel Lolimo told The Insider I an exclusive interview that the abductors shot and killed the children’s mother after she tried to call for help.

“The woman was coming from the garden in the evening so these people ambushed them.” He said.

“They actually grabbed the children from the mother and because of the pain of the children of the mother, she had to follow these people. She grabbed one of them while crying for rescue. so the other fellow came and shot the woman.” Lolimo explained, adding after tracking the gunmen, security operatives found the abductors.

Following an exchange of gunfire, the authorities were able to rescue the girl but Lolimo says the abductors ran away with the boy.

He says they are engaging authorities in the Pibor Administrative area to trace the whereabouts of the missing boy and are urging young people in Kapoeta not to carry out a revenge attack on the Murle community.

“We are talking to the youths to abide by the law, not to go and do counter revenge in that area and do the killings as a payback.” Lolimo said.

He said the authorities are engaging the authorities of the greater Pibor Administrative area to trace the child.

“If they recover the child, that will be great news for us so that we can reunite the child with his family members.” Commissioner Lolimo said.

In 2016, authorities in Kapoeta signed an agreement between the Murle communities who are known for masterminding child abductions in the areas, which communities in Kaoeta put an end to inequalities in employment opportunities. 

Michael Losike, a member of the Council of States representing Eastern Equatoria state, says the attack on the women and her children may have been perpetuated by a group of people who were not satisfied by the agreement signed between the Murle and communities in Kapoeta.

“It seems these elements who are still existing there are those you are not convinced. These are people saying that people have already forgotten what has been agreed upon.” Losike said.

The rescued girl is now living with her aunt in Naakwa Payam in Kapoeta.