Three Aid Workers Abducted on Yei-Lasu Road

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – Three humanitarian workers attached to an international organisation were abducted by unknown armed men along the Yei-Lasu Road on Tuesday morning while carrying out an Ebola prevention mission to Lasu Payam.

The victims, identified as a medical nurse and two drivers, were reportedly seized at around 11:00 a.m. in Balamuke Village as they transported Ebola Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) materials to Libogo, a border town in Lasu Payam near the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Lasu Payam is considered one of the most vulnerable areas in Yei River County due to its numerous porous entry points along the South Sudan-DR Congo border, raising concerns about the potential spread of Ebola from affected areas in the region.

According to a relative of the abducted workers, the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of US$5,000 for each hostage in exchange for their release.

The Yei River County Relief and Rehabilitation Coordinator, Mabe Moses, confirmed that his office was informed of the incident on Tuesday afternoon. He said the whereabouts of the abducted workers remain unknown.

Moses condemned the abduction and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the humanitarian personnel.

“These are humanitarian workers serving local communities and helping to prevent the spread of Ebola into the country. We do not understand why they should be targeted while assisting our own people,” he said.

Efforts to obtain a comment from the Yei River County Commissioner were unsuccessful by the time of publication.

The latest incident adds to growing security concerns in Yei River County, where local reports indicate a rising number of abductions targeting humanitarian workers since the beginning of the year. Authorities and humanitarian agencies continue to appeal for improved security to ensure the safe delivery of life-saving assistance to vulnerable communities.