Bishop Emeritus Hillary Adeba of Yei River County in Central Equatoria State, South Sudan has raised alarm over the continued abduction and killing of civilians by armed rebel groups operating in parts of Greater Yei.
Speaking during a stakeholder meeting in Yei River County that brought together government officials, security personnel, community leaders and humanitarian partners, Bishop Adeba said more than 30 people had reportedly been abducted in Yei, Lainya, Morobo and surrounding areas.
He called on the government and security agencies to strengthen measures to protect civilians and address the growing insecurity.
“More than 30 people have been abducted. It is becoming a serious matter, and we need our government to make peace and stability,” Adeba said.
The bishop said armed groups were increasingly targeting civilians and humanitarian workers through abductions, rather than addressing the broader challenges affecting communities.
“As a church, we need peace. That is why we are engaged in peace activities,” he added.
Adeba urged security agencies to strengthen civilian protection, monitor the movements of suspected kidnappers and develop lasting measures to prevent further attacks.
The Executive Director of Across, Dr. Elisama Wani Michael, commended Yei River County Commissioner Samuel Henry Malimbo for convening the stakeholder meeting.
Dr. Wani said Across has a long history of working with communities and stakeholders in Yei and continues to support people with disabilities, farmers and communities in need of water and other humanitarian assistance.
He urged community leaders and residents to report suspicious activities and security incidents to the relevant authorities to enable investigations and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
Lainya County Commissioner Huda Laila Michael also called for collective efforts to address insecurity, saying communities across Greater Yei are increasingly vulnerable.
She appealed for lasting peace, employment opportunities for young people and dialogue with armed groups to encourage them to abandon violence and return to civilian life.
Yei River County Commissioner Samuel Henry Malimbo said protecting the population was a collective responsibility requiring cooperation among communities, government institutions, security agencies and humanitarian partners.
Malimbo commended Across and CBM for facilitating the meeting and urged residents not to ignore security threats in their communities.
According to humanitarian partners, more than 20 cases of abduction have been recorded across Greater Yei, affecting the movement and operations of humanitarian workers.
The stakeholders called for stronger coordination among security agencies, communities and humanitarian organizations to improve civilian protection and restore stability across the region.