By James Innocent
Yei River County paramount, Chief Joseph Brown Lomosee, who was abducted on Monday, has been set free.
The paramount chief and two humanitarian workers were abducted while going for peace dialogue at Logo Boma in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State.
Confirming his safe return, the paramount chief said he was not physically harmed but felt exhausted after being moved from one place to another without a clear sense of location.
According to the Commissioner of Yei River County, Emmanuel Taban Seme, the abduction took place along Maridi road.
Initially, the abductors released a local government official and a driver on the same day but demanded a ransom of over 16,000 US dollars for other individuals.
“As a county government, we do not have any mandate to pay ransom,” the commissioner said.
He urged the abductors to stop targeting humanitarian workers who are delivering essential services to our communities.
Taban emphasised all armed groups should refrain from abduction, saying that such actions threaten the fragile peace and the safety of citizens.
Meanwhile, Arkanjelo Modi, Chairperson of the Civil Society Network in Yei River County, condemned the abduction and urged armed individuals to stop targeting humanitarian workers and peace actors.
He emphasized the importance of allowing civil society organizations to operate without fear in order to meet their goals and continue protecting vulnerable citizens.