Twelve people abducted along the Juba – Terekeka road last week were released over the weekend after payment of over eight million South Sudanese Pounds ransom.
Authorities in Terekeka County say the abductees including a Kenyan national who have been held by armed gunmen since Tuesday last week were brought to record their statements to the police in Juba.
Terekeka County Commissioner, James Lino Malou said in a phone interview Sunday,
“Yes, the abductees were released the day before yesterday. We have been informed that a sum of around eight million South Sudanese Pounds was paid to a Zain Number they gave after three days of negotiations through phone calls with the relatives of the people they held captive,” Lino Malou said.
The abductors had initially demanded that a ransom of five million South Sudanese Pounds should be paid for each abductee according to the commissioner of Terekeka County.
James Lino said, “We sent them [the abductees] to the police in Juba to write their statements shortly after their release but the abductors are still at large.”
Nine of the victims were travelling from Juba to Terekeka when they were intercepted at Nyori Payam.
The other three were gentleman who transporting their fish for sale from Terekeka to Juba.
South Sudan National Police Service published pictures of five wanted people and offered two million South Sudanese Pounds for anyone who will provide information that will lead to their arrest.
Photos of those wanted | Credit: SSNPS
In the police publication, the group of men are involved in kidnapping, torturing, maiming and even killing of people along the Juba-Yei, Juba-Kajokeji, Juba-Mundri and Juba-Terekeka roads.
On Sunday, 7th February 2021, four men who were kidnapped by unknown Criminals at Bungu, Gworjik [Juba-Yei road] were released three days later after a ransom of twelve million South Sudanese Pounds was paid by relatives of the abductees.
The boys were picked from a Tipper Lorry as they were travelling from Lainya to Juba after being ambushed in Kwarojik Bungu near a hotel along the road just after leaving a Road Construction Company base.
The South Sudan Penal Code Act 2008, Section 271 states that whoever kidnaps or abducts any person so that such a person maybe murdered or put in danger of being murdered, commits an offence, and upon conviction, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years or a fine, or both.
